Written by Yiwen Gao, edited by Zhen Zhang
On September 18th, all the teachers and students of grade 2016 in our college met together to participate in the eighty-fifth anniversary of the "918 Incident" and the eightieth anniversary for commemorating the victory of the Red Army Long March. The activity is also the 12th Coming-of-Age Ceremony for our college freshmen. The theme is "Keeping 918 Incident in mind, working together for our country". Wang Siming (deputy party secretary of our college), Xie Linqiao (the instructor of grade 2016), all freshmen, drill masters and student delegates attended the activity.
In the morning, the sun, as red as blood, was shining on the playground, as if it was reminding people that the history should not be forgotten. At ten past seven in the morning, the commemoration began with the solemn song; in the meantime, four flag-bearers hold the flag highly goose-stepping towards the platform along the track slowly. Everyone looking at the burning red national flag in the morning sunlight made the scene statelier.
“Young people are essential to the development of our country,” Yang Jie, the student representative said. He first led us to recall the hard years, and focused on representing the indissoluble bound of Communist Party of China and Wuhan University. He firmly said: "history makes men wise, and lets us remember history to cherish the memory of our revolutionary martyrs, so as to inherit the behest of our ancestors with our youth!”. All the students’ faces were full of perseverance. After that, Yang Jie guided the freshmen to solemnly swear:” I swear that I am determined to be the contemporary college student, who has ideals, pursuits, capability of outstanding achievements and taking responsibilities, and is also of good quality and well-educated. Actively fulfilling civic obligations, consciously abiding by social morality, and devoting ourselves for the realization of the Chinese dream......" The sound of loud oath echoed above the playground. It is hoped that everyone can remember the oath and today's commitment.
Then, student representatives and class monitors signed their names on the "9.18" poster. Although it was a simple signature, it reflected students’ determination to make full efforts to accomplish the contemporary youth’s missions.
At the end of the activity, Wang Siming, the deputy party secretary of our college, delivered a speech to all students. Reviewing the history, Wang said: "Fourteen years after the 918 incident, our Chinese blood had been spread everywhere on the land." He hoped that the students do not forget national humiliation, and strive to fulfill their dream with passion. At the same time, he warned students that four years of time is short and beautiful. It is essential to enrich every day. He also emphasized that the reason that we chose today to hold the coming-of-age ceremony for you was to let you remember the certain day, remember the sufferings it brought to China. Our country hasn’t been revived, so every WHU student has the responsibility to fight for the renaissance.
Eighty-five years have passed by, time changed a lot, but the tears and blood stayed the same. Let’s remember the history and national humiliation, and convert shock into strength to make contributions to the rejuvenation of China.
