China News Network Suqian, April 1 (Reporter Liu Lin) "All the heroes buried here are soldiers who sacrificed to liberate their cause. How did our good life now come? It was these martyrs who traded their blood and lives for Yes, their graves cannot be leveled. "On March 31, at his home in Sihong County, Jiangsu Province, the elderly Qiu Deping recalled the situation of decades of volunteering to guard the tomb of the unknown martyr, and still remembered many details.

Near Qingming, Zang Yunian was cleaning the tomb of the unknown martyr. Photo by Liu Lin

"After liberation, a long time, some village cadres thought these were graves without owners, and wanted to plant the crops. I reasoned and finally saved the tombs of these martyrs." Qiu Deping was born in 1923, already 97 At the age of her, she was emaciated and her expression was clear. She told reporters that during decades of grave care, she had advised village officials who wanted to bury the grave, stopped villagers who had occupied the land, and driven the children who had played on the grave many times ...

Behind Zangqiao Village, Zhuhu Town, Sihong County, Jiangsu Province, eight concrete-packed short graves lined up from south to north. The newly planted green pines around the tomb are dripping with verdure. In order to facilitate the memorial service, more than 100 square meters of cement square was laid in front of the tomb, and road hardening and other projects are also underway.

"The old mother is old, and I took over her to guard these martyrs' tombs around 2005." Zang Qingnian, who is cleaning the green debris in front of the tomb, said that he is Qiu Deping's second son. When his mother entered the city and lived, she took over the class , Volunteer to guard the tomb of the martyrs. "I live nearby and come here for nothing. I used to add soil when it was a mound, and now I clean it. If I don't come for a few days, I feel like I have done less."

In 2015, Zhuhu Town People's Government set up a monument for eight tombs of unknown martyrs, and the epitaph explains the origin of the tombs of the martyrs.

In 2015, the local town government erected a monument to the tomb of the unknown soldier. Photo by Liu Lin

After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, the peace talks between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party broke down, the KMT attacked the northern Jiangsu liberated area, and the first and second regiments of the Jianghuai Independent Brigade of our army were ordered to transfer. In August 1946, the Independent Brigade and the Kuomintang's 107th Army Sun Liangcheng encountered a fierce battle near Sun Yuan and Chen Kun, commonly known as "vehicle crossing". The independent brigade suffered heavy casualties and was transferred to a more serious condition. At the rear hospital in Zangqiao Village, 9 soldiers died unfortunately.

Due to the urgent need for the transfer of our army, in the future, before the names of the sacrificed soldiers were verified, they were hurriedly buried in 8 coffins.

"After the martyr was buried, a chief gave me a 'credential', presumably meaning that the eight coffins kept by me were used." Qiu Deping told reporters that he would always remember the scene at that time, and the nine sacrificed soldiers were all over Blood stains, the oldest are in their early 30s, and the youngest is only 15. "He is very thin, and I wipe the blood on his face over and over again."

Qiu Deping was the director of the local women's rescue association at that time, and joined the party in 1944. "I'm a party member. The chief gave me a receipt before leaving, and I have a responsibility to guard the martyr's tomb."

Qiu Deping took a photo with her husband when he was young. (Remake old photo) Photo by Liu Lin

What kind of belief made Qiu Deping obligate to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for decades?

"These sacrificed fighters are too young. I feel very distressed at the thought of them. I must guard them." Qiu Deping told reporters that her husband was also a PLA soldier. When he saw these sacrificed fighters, he thought of his husband. . "You said that he was fighting outside for the liberation cause. If he was sacrificed someday, would he be the same as these soldiers, not even his name, and his family would not know where he was buried? I keep these tombs for the sake of The loved ones of these martyrs have a chance to find loved ones. "

After liberation, after many visits and verifications, it was found that the second martyr's tomb was buried in the former Lugou Township, Sihong County, and was a Tibetan martyr. This also gave Qiu Deping some comfort.

Now the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has become the local red education base. Every year, it is clear and many people come to worship. In order to facilitate the memorial service, the village issued an initiative to repair the tomb of the unknown martyr. After Qiu Deping learned about it, she insisted on donating 10,000 yuan from her modest living expenses. With her drive, she raised more than 30,000 yuan in just half a day. "In the past, when my mother was in good health, the Qingming Festival told the stories of nine martyrs to the students who came to sacrifice. Now I gave the baton to me, and I will tell this story." Zang Qingnian said. (Finish)