Chinanews.com, Hangzhou, September 2nd, title: "Soul Ferryman" ferrying the two sides of the strait and sending veterans "Leaves to Roots"

　　Author Guo Qiyu Su Lihao

　　"Uncle Zhang, I'm home." At Jinan Airport in Shandong, Liu Dewen, who had just got off the plane, recognized the person who had come to pick him up.

He carefully took out the ashes of the Taiwanese veteran Uncle Zhang from his backpack.

It was Uncle Zhang's 90-year-old brother who came to pick up the plane. He was holding the crying old man, and Liu Dewen soothed, "Going home, it's a happy event."

　　This is a "reunion" road home to Taiwan veterans' dreams during their lifetime. This road has been walked countless times by Liu Dewen, the head of the Xiangheli community in Kaohsiung, Taiwan over the past decade.

　　A few days ago, hosted by Hangzhou Lingyin Temple, China News Agency Zhejiang Branch and Zhejiang Returned Overseas Chinese Association, and supported by Hangzhou Yunlin Public Welfare Foundation, the 6th China Charity Culture Festival announced the list of "2020 Chinese Charity and Filial Persons", and Liu Dewen was selected. .

For 16 years, he crossed the strait ten times a year with the ashes of the dead veterans, traveled across 23 provinces in the mainland, and helped more than 200 Taiwan veterans return to their roots. He is also known as the "soul ferryman."

Liu Dewen handed the ashes of the veteran to relatives in mainland China.

Photo courtesy of respondents

　　Such a charity act will start in 2003.

At that time, Liu Dewen was active in a volunteer organization, providing help to veterans living alone from the mainland to Taiwan.

The veterans who got along with him developed a deep affection and elected him to run for the post.

　　After being elected as the chief, Liu Dewen quit his high-paying job at the bank and devoted himself to serving the veterans.

During this period, he had a better understanding of the veterans. "They left their hometown when they were teenagers and followed the army to Taiwan. There are no children, no children, no relatives, so I am their son. I have to help if I have any difficulties. ."

　　In the spring of 2003, an veteran brought two bottles of sorghum wine into Liu Dewen's office and asked Liu Dewen to sit in his room.

"He left his hometown when he was a teenager and never went back. The old man said to me after a glass of wine, the chief asks you to take my ashes home, bury it in front of my parents' grave, and let me do everything. Filial piety." Facing the old man's plea, Liu Dewen agreed, but he didn't know what pressure he would face.

　　Soon after, the old man passed away.

After several rounds, Liu Dewen finally contacted the old man's relatives in mainland China.

In 2004, carrying his ashes, Liu Dewen crossed the strait to Hunan, fulfilling the old man's long-cherished wish.

　　After the incident spread, more and more veterans found Liu Dewen and entrusted him with the final destination of their lives.

Liu Dewen couldn't refuse, so he carried the ashes of the veterans on his chest time and time again, returning these wandering souls to the origin of life.

　　On the way to send veterans "home", Liu Dewen often had to take a green train or a long-distance bus, and only chose the cheapest hotel for lodging on the way, but every time he reserved an extra seat and a bed for the elderly.

　　"This can't be measured by money." Liu Dewen told reporters, "The veterans love me as much as a son. I must be worthy of this love. This is my responsibility."

　　In recent years, people on the mainland have also begun to contact Liu Dewen, hoping that he can help find the ashes of their elders and bring them back to their hometown.

Such a search is even more difficult for Liu Dewen, "If you are not placed in a military cemetery, you can only find a needle in a haystack in a chaotic grave."

　　For this reason, Liu Dewen traveled all over Taiwan.

In the process of searching for the cemetery of the veterans, he once fell from the mountain and broke two ribs.

　　In 2018, Liu Dewen received a call from Shandong. On the other end of the phone was the grandson of a Taiwanese veteran. He asked Liu Dewen to help find his grandfather.

And when the grandson of the veteran flew to Taiwan to look for it together, looking at the desolate graveyard, he had the idea of ​​giving up.

　　"I didn't give up. Why did you give up? I can definitely find it." In Liu Dewen's view, the veterans have been homesick all their lives. Sending them home is to do a filial piety and must be done.

After a year of searching, Liu Dewen found the cemetery of the veteran, and Ye Luo finally returned to his roots.

　　Although he never knew the mainland relatives of the veterans, Liu Dewen also became close relatives with them.

The family love on both sides of the strait has the same roots, and the reunion and longing for more than half a century have been continued.

　　"The compatriots on both sides of the strait are all descendants of China. Our ancestors taught us that filial piety is the first. We must pass on this kind of filial piety. People must do something meaningful in their life to give back to the society. As long as I do something, I will Keep doing it." Liu Dewen understands kindness and filial piety.

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