Shayang Martyrs' Cemetery

　　    In March 2001, the Shayang County Committee and County Government invested 2.27 million yuan to relocate the Martyrs' Cemetery to Kongjiawan in Gaoping Village, Shayang Town, an area with a pleasant environment, and rebuild it. The new cemetery covers an area of 50 mu and consists of four parts: the Martyrs' Monument, the cemetery gate, a green square, and the Martyrs' Exhibition Hall. The Martyrs' Monument is carved from white marble, and the inscriptions on it — “Monument to Revolutionary Martyrs” and “Revolutionary Martyrs Live Forever” — are in the handwriting style of Chairman Mao Zedong. On April 2, 2004, during the completion ceremony of the Shayang Martyrs' Cemetery, the relocation of the martyrs’ ashes, and the naming ceremony for the Patriotic Education Base, the County Committee and County Government designated Shayang Martyrs' Cemetery as the “Shayang County Patriotic Education Base.”

　　    The cemetery houses the remains of more than 90 martyrs, including veteran Red Army soldiers who dedicated their lives to the revolution, PLA soldiers who heroically sacrificed themselves in the battle to liberate Shayang, correctional officers who bravely gave their lives in struggles with inmates during their work, state officials who lost their precious lives for the construction and development of Shayang, and the new generation of the most adorable people who died defending the nation’s borders. Their heroic deeds will be forever remembered, and their noble spirit will continue to inspire future generations.

　　    Today, the cemetery serves as a base for the people of Shayang County, including those from the Shayang Prison Administration, to commemorate revolutionary martyrs, express grief, uplift morale, and receive patriotic and traditional education.

　　    II. Information on the Martyrs

　　    Since the Opium War in 1840, many patriots have fought unremittingly on the land of Shayang for national prosperity and ethnic rejuvenation. Especially after the founding of the Communist Party of China in 1921, the Party led the people of Shayang under the banner of patriotism, fighting for national independence, social progress, and people’s freedom — sacrificing their lives and advancing courageously to compose moving and heroic epics. A total of 1,100 martyrs from the county gave their lives for the country.

　　    Among them, those resting in the Martyrs' Cemetery include: On the early morning of May 16, 1948, when the officers and soldiers of the Third Sub-district of the Jianghan Military Region of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army launched a fierce attack on the Nationalist troops stationed in Shayang, the Shayang Water Police, and local militias. Some martyrs who died heroically in the battle; In the summer of 1949, dozens of sick soldiers from the Fourth Field Army who had participated in the Liaoshen and Pingjin Campaigns and marched south to Shayang.

　　    There are also martyrs who sacrificed heroically for the revolution in different periods:

　　    Martyr Deng Qinghua, from Zengji Town, Shayang County, enlisted in 1994. On October 14, 1997, while participating in the Shenyang Military Region’s “Advance 97” military exercise, he was assigned a helicopter fast-rope descent mission. Due to an accidental deformation of the climbing rope hook, he fell from a great height and sacrificed heroically.

　　    Martyr Lu Yang, from XinHong Village, Hougang Town, was a soldier from the 5th Squadron of the 9th Detachment of the Beijing Corps of the Armed Police Force. He enlisted in December 1998. At 21:25 on August 30, 2002, a young woman jumped into the river from Liangma Bridge near Beijing’s Jianguomen CBD and attempted suicide. Lu Yang, who was on duty nearby, heard the shouts over the radio and quickly rushed to the scene. He jumped into the heavily polluted and deep river to save her. Exhausted and overwhelmed by the conditions, he sacrificed his life heroically at the age of 23. Prior to his death, Lu Yang was stationed in front of the Iranian Embassy, and the ambassador personally wrote a letter of mourning to the Armed Police leadership. The Beijing Municipal Armed Police awarded him the “May Fourth Youth Medal.”

　　    Honored are the hills that cradle loyal bones; Eternal shines their light upon future generations. To further promote patriotism and inherit the martyrs’ legacy, after the Shayang County Committee and County Government named the cemetery as the Shayang County Patriotic Education Base, the number of visitors paying tribute at the cemetery has reached over 20,000 each year.