The father and son of Suzhou City, Anhui Province have been guarding martyrs' tombs for 38 years

2023-04-03

Sheng Zhixi told the story of the martyrs to the local Blue Sky Rescue Team members. "This battle has been fought from dawn to dawn, and in order to cover the retreat of our comrades, 18 soldiers in the guard company have sacrificed their lives..." On the eve of the Tomb Sweeping Day, a steady stream of cadres and people went to the Shengwei Battle Martyrs Cemetery in Suzhou, Anhui Province to pay homage. Sheng Zhixi, an elderly cemetery keeper, spoke of the fierce battle 82 years ago, with tears in his eyes. Sheng Zhixi's parents, Sheng Weifan and Kong Xiuying, were experienced in the battle. One day in the winter of 1941, the officers and soldiers of the New Fourth Army who were staying at the home of Sheng Weifan in Shengwei Village were suddenly surrounded by enemies several times their own. At a critical moment, Kong Xiuying bravely led the way for the officers and soldiers to break through. Most of the officers and soldiers broke out of the siege, but 18 soldiers of the guard company charged with the task of blocking the attack died heroically. After the battle, Sheng Weifan and his fellow villagers gathered the remains of the martyrs and buried them in the southwest corner of Shengwei Village. In 1981, to commemorate the martyrs who died in the struggle against "mopping up", the local government began to build a martyr cemetery here. "When they lodged with our family in those days, they sacrificed for the sake of resisting Japan, and I will guard their tombs!" In 1985, after the completion of the Martyrs' Cemetery, Sheng Weifan voluntarily moved into the Martyrs' Cemetery and volunteered to serve as the tomb keeper. A promise, a lifelong guardian. Until his deathbed, Sheng Weifan also instructed his son, Sheng Zhixi, to "guard the tomb for the martyrs regardless." In 2005, Sheng Zhixi took over from his father and moved into the Martyrs' Cemetery. From the prime of his life to the late 70s of this year, Sheng Zhixi insisted on cleaning the cemetery every day, wiping the martyrs' tombstones, and telling the battle story to everyone who came to visit. "It is my greatest wish to guard the tomb of heroes and spread their deeds throughout my life." Sheng Zhixi told the author that under his influence, his son Sheng Xiaobao also joined the ranks of guarding the tomb. "When my father stops guarding, I'll take over his shift!" Sheng Xiaobao said in a loud voice. Under the relay protection of two generations of father and son for 38 years, the Shengwei Battle Martyrs Cemetery has evergreen pines and cypresses, and flowers and grasses are like brocade. In recent years, Suzhou City has successively relocated 54 famous martyrs and 1677 unknown martyrs buried in the surrounding areas. Today, it has become the city's patriotism education base. The two generations of the Shengjia family have voluntarily guarded the martyrs' cemetery, which has influenced and driven the surrounding people. It is common practice to remember, defend, learn from, and care for heroes in the local area. (Liao Xinshe)

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