CHANGSHA, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) — At a memorial corridor in central China’s Zhijiang County, Rick Peterson, the son of Flying Tigers member Bill Peterson, paused earlier than show instances, gazing on the helmets, ammunition containers and a typewriter utilized by the American volunteer pilots who fought alongside Chinese forces in opposition to Japanese invaders throughout World War II.
“Seeing some of the supplies, equipment and pictures like these, which show what my father was doing, was really emotional. The memorial hall did a great job organizing everything and making that time real,” the 69-year-old stated, whereas visiting the memorial corridor of the anti-Japanese aggression struggle and the acceptance of the Japanese give up in Zhijiang.
On Sept. 4 and 5, the sixth China (Zhijiang) International Peace Culture Festival drew descendants of WWII veterans and worldwide representatives to this historic county in Hunan Province, commemorating the eightieth anniversary of the victory within the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
During World War II, Zhijiang Airport grew to become a key base for the Flying Tigers, the first American Volunteer Group shaped in 1941 to assist China drive out invading Japanese troops. In 1945, it was additionally in Zhijiang that Japanese representatives handed over a map of Japanese troops deployed in China and signed a give up memorandum.
“My father’s crew was such a tight-knit group of guys. They came from all over the United States — different places, different cities and different ethnic backgrounds, but they came together to fight for one common cause. The American and Chinese peoples also have different skin colors, languages and cultures,” stated Rick Peterson.
“From him, I learned the importance of teamwork. That’s why I became a basketball coach,” he added.
“He also said that the Chinese people and the American people should really get along, because we helped each other. In a way, we’re joined together,” he stated, including that when his father was alive, he was obsessed with sharing the Flying Tigers tales with others.
Rick Peterson stated he plans to share his experiences from his journey to China after he returns to the United States.
According to Wu Jianhong, the curator of the memorial corridor, the ability is devoted to preserving historical past, selling friendship and spreading the message of peace.
“People of China and the United States should continue to work together to safeguard peace and carry forward the spirit of friendship,” Wu added.
The legacy of the Doolittle Raid rescue, in the meantime, additionally underlines the friendship between the Chinese and American peoples. On April 18, 1942, a gaggle of 16 U.S. bombers took off from the USS Hornet and performed an air raid on Japanese cities in retaliation for the assault on Pearl Harbor. Running low on gas after turning south, the plane crashed throughout jap China, the place native residents risked their lives to rescue the parachuting airmen and assist them evacuate to security.
William Ross Kantenberger, a descendant of one of many Doolittle Raid pilots, additionally attended the memorial occasion together with his spouse Tracy Kantenberger.
“Before coming here, I only knew a little about the Flying Tigers. The museum was really eye-opening. Just seeing all the different items helped me learn so much more,” William Ross Kantenberger stated. “This feels like a different side of the Doolittle Raid.”
Notably, Tracy Kantenberger, a highschool historical past instructor, expressed her willingness of instructing this historical past to her college students.
At the competition’s opening ceremony, Jeffrey Ballard Greene, chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, highlighted the significance of carrying ahead this friendship whereas giving a speech.
For years, he has devoted himself to the Flying Tigers Friendship Schools and Youth Leadership Program, bringing American college students to go to Chinese cities, WWII battlefields, airports and museums — to find out about and share within the particular bond between Chinese civilians and American pilots.
He stated that about 110 Chinese and 40 American faculties will take part on this program subsequent yr.
“Humanity was more important than self-survival. What this shows us is a story from 80 years ago — how America and China worked together and faced any odds and won. It tells us that today, if America and China work together in technology, ethics, science or space, we can win.”