China Focus: China highlights revolutionary spirit by mourning martyrs

China Focus: China highlights revolutionary spirit by mourningmartyrs

BEIJING, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese are pouring into cemeteriesand memorial parks to mourn martyrs who gave their lives to thecountry during the Qingming holidays, in a year China will mark the90th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

It is a tradition for Chinese to visit family graves duringQingming, or the Tomb Sweeping Day, which falls on Tuesday thisyear. In recent years, it has become a trend to commemorate nationalheroes and martyrs on the occasion.

More than 1,800 people in the southern Foshan City, includinggovernment officials, soldiers and representatives from all walks oflife, went to the local Tiejun Park on Sunday to commemorate ChenTiejun, a CPC member who was killed in 1928 and regarded as one ofthe 100 people making outstanding contributions to the founding ofNew China.

"We shall carry forward the the ideals and spirits of martyrs inthe construction of a prosperous Foshan," said Chen Yunxian, chiefof the CPC Foshan committee.

Liu Zhongyi, a veteran soldier who participated in the War ofLiberation and the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, said"we are the lucky ones to survive the wars, and the martyrs shouldnever be forgotten."

The southwestern Chongqing Municipality has also launched aseries of similar memorial ceremonies, aiming to enhance people'sunderstanding of the country's hard-won achievements and the newhistorical mission.

Similar activities were reported, as usual, across the country.

In the eastern province of Anhui, young people expressedcondolences via the Internet toward revolutionary martyrs. Theypresented "flowers" and left messages of respect at memorialwebsites.

The CPC's Central Civilization Office launched a website in 2009to encourage people to pay respects to fallen revolutionary heroesonline. The website has attracted millions of visitors.

The CPC has a tradition of respecting martyrs and valuinghistory. The country has more than 3,180 martyrs memorial facilitiesunder country-level protection and above.

Since the beginning of this year, major Chinese portal and newswebsites have run a special column on major events in the history ofthe CPC as part of its 90th anniversary celebrations.

Many sites related to the early history of the CPC have beendeveloped into tourist attractions, and "red tourism" is popular inthe country.

The CPC was founded in July 1921. A total of 12 delegatesrepresenting about 50 CPC members nationwide secretly convened atthe first CPC national congress in late July in Shanghai. July 1 waslater designated as anniversary of the founding of the CPC.

By the end of 2009, the number of CPC members had grown to nearly78 million.

During a March visit to Shaoshan village in Hunan Province, orthe birthplace of Chairman Mao Zedong (1893-1976), Chinese VicePresident Xi Jinping said that the revolutionary tradition of theolder generation was a precious spiritual wealth for the CPC.

All CPC members and officials should learn the Party's historyand understand the inevitability of the CPC's leadership that waschosen by history and the people, Xi said. REBURIAL FOR MARTYRS

The Ministry of Civil Affairs has begun a national survey ofmartyrs' tombs and memorial facilities that scatter around, which isexpected to conclude in June. Following the survey, a nationalproject would be launched to rebury the martyrs in cemeteries.

It is estimated more than one million tombs of martyrs arecurrently outside martyrs cemeteries and 7,000 memorial facilitiesare under poor protection.

Most of the tombs and facilities are small in size, oftendilapidated. Some might disappear someday without protectionefforts.h "The memorial facilities are not only places where webury and mourn revolutionary martyrs, but also venues for educationin patriotism and revolutionary tradition," Vice Minister of CivilAffairs Sun Shaocheng said at a national conference on protection ofmemorial facilities for martyrs before the Tomb Sweeping Day.

About 20 million martyrs gave their lives to China's revolutionand construction. Most of them are unsung heroes and only 1.8million names were on government records.

"When you drink water, think of its source. The reburial is amove to promote the revolutionary spirit of martyrs and exhibitionof humanity," remarked Xu Xiaoyue, a professor with Chinese CultureResearch Institute of Nanjing University.

In another sign of respect for martyrs, China will continue toraise the pension for their families, said Minister of Civil AffairsLi Liguo.

The pension has been raised for 20 times since 1979, from 72 yuanper year to the current 5,240 yuan (nearly 800 U.S. dollars) forrural families and from 120 yuan to 8,730 yuan for urban families.