On September 18, 2020, in memory of the September 18th Incident, the national flag guards of Central China Normal University held flag raising ceremonies in Boone Library and Youming stadium respectively. At six o'clock in the morning, bathing in the first trace of sunshine in the morning, the members of the national flag guards who would participate in the flag raising ceremony assembled. Before the ceremony officially began, the team members carried out the preparatory work: military posture training and marching practice. The sound of each step hitting the ground was sonorous and powerful.
At 6:50, the flag raising ceremony officially began, and the national flag guards in training clothes stood solemnly in front of the flag platform of Boone Library. The music sounded, accompanied by the loud slogan of the commander, the flag guards in the costume of the three armed forces were marching forcefully forward to the flag station on Guizhong Road. When the flag raisers arrived at the flag raising platform, the team quickly stopped. The two flag raisers carefully tied the flag to the rope. As the national anthem was played, the flag bearer raised the flag to the right, and the flag lifter slowly pulled the flag rope. All the members of the national flag guards and the audience stood upright, paying attention to the Five-Starred Red Flag. It rose slowly with the national anthem, and finally reached the top, flying in the air against the wind.
Then, the members of the national flag guards lined up again and crossed the avenue to Youming stadium. Along the way, they sang the song of Tian An Men national flag guard team. Arriving at the Youming stadium, they held a flag raising ceremony successfully. It was observed that several freshmen, who arrived at the playground early to wait for military training finding that the flag raising ceremony was in progress, went over and watched ceremony before leaving.
Yan Shun, a student of Grade 2019 of School of Computer Science, participated in the event. It was understood that he also participated in a flag raising ceremony on January 1, 2020. He recalled that although it was in cold winter, many people still came to watch the flag raising ceremony and sang the national anthem, which made him feel impressive and patriotic. Today, he specially got up early from Nanhu campus to Boone Library to watch it. In his mind, it was not only a ceremony, but also a manifestation of patriotism. He said, "Under the background of advocating the simultaneous development of Five-Education in the new era, college students should actively accept patriotic education, and participating in the flag raising ceremony is a good way."
For Yang Liuqing, a member of the 24th National flag guard team, the daily training of the national flag guards has long been an indispensable part of her life. She said that she looked forward to daily training every day, and had already regarded the national flag guard team as her home. At the same time, Yang also mentioned, "The team is meticulous in the treatment of every flag raising ceremony. We resume training from the end of the opening examination week. The purpose of training is to prepare for the flag raising ceremony on September 18th." Every wonderful flag raising ceremony is made by the efforts and sweat of the members of the national flag guard team. The daily training of the national flag guard team is exhausting, but the team members never complain.
The flag raising ceremony is not only a "ceremony", but also to commemorate the September 18th Incident that every Chinese should keep in mind. Everyone is the protector of the country. Only by remembering the history and not forgetting the national humiliation, can we be self-reliant.
Date：2020-9-20
Reporter：Li Dan
Translator: Huang Linjing
Information Source: the Voice of CCNU
