At 9:18 am on September 18, the Memorial Hall held the ceremony of raising the national flag and singing the national anthem at the Public Memorial Square to commemorate the 92nd anniversary of the September 18 Incident that marked the start of Japan’s invasion of China. Some descendants of Nanjing Massacre survivors, teenagers, military officers and soldiers, and Memorial Hall staff members attended the ceremony. The attendees stood facing the national flag to express their reverence, with those in hat taking off their hats, and looked up in a salute to the flag while the Young Pioneers saluted the flag in their own way. The attendees also sang the national anthem together.

After the flag-raising ceremony, Yu Huiru, daughter of Nanjing Massacre survivor Yu Changxiang, made a speech as a representative of survivors’ descendants. “In 1937, my father Yu Changxiang was only 11 years old. His biological father Yu Bifu was captured by Japanese soldiers who forced him to work as a carrier. Later he was killed at Xiaoshikou outside the Zhonghua Gate. His foster father was shot two times and stabbed seven times by Japanese soldiers, but luckily survived. Before his death, my father said he wished the historical tragedy will never be repeated and the future generations could live in peace forever. As his daughter, I surely have a greater responsibility and obligation to play a part in safeguarding peace,” Yu said.

At 9:25, the ceremony of striking the Bell of Peace started. Six representatives jointly struck the bell three times. They may be a representative of the descendants of Nanjing Massacre survivors, a teenager, a teacher, a military officer or soldier, or a Zijin Cao volunteer. The sound of the bell reminded people of the importance of remembering history and cherishing peace.