[100th Anniversary of the Communist Party of China] Pingxiang, Hebei: Veterans self-built National Defense Education Pavilion
[Explanation] Recently, the National Defense Education Exhibition Hall built by Zhang Huishen, a 69-year-old retired veteran in Pingxiang County, Hebei Province, was built at his own expense and became a popular place for local people to check in.
The exhibition hall covers an area of nearly 200 square meters and has 258 panels. It is divided into three exhibition areas, including historical pictures, historical materials and weapon models. It mainly displays the achievements of China's national defense construction since the founding of the People's Republic of China and reviews the main revolutionary historical events in Pingxiang County.
[Commentary] According to Zhang Huishen, he joined the army in 1969, served in Zhangzhou, Fujian, and retired in 1975. After retiring, he returned to his hometown in Pingxiang to start a business. The revolutionary sentiments of the veteran for more than 40 years have always been rooted in his heart.
So he had the idea of building a national defense education exhibition hall.
[Concurrent] Zhang Huishen
Those who have served as soldiers will never forget the (revolutionary) feelings of being a soldier.
I went to travel in 2019 to see Chairman Mao’s hometown. After I come back, I want to build a national defense education exhibition hall at home.
[Commentary] According to Zhang Huishen, in 2020, with the guidance and help of the local government, he visited many local revolutionary predecessors and systematically collected relevant materials and local revolutionary stories.
[Concurrent] Zhang Huishen
By October 2020, I feel that things (data) can be collected. I started construction and the office began to renovate. After this half a year (more than) time, by June 28, 2021, the (exhibition hall) will be officially opened to the public, I feel very happy.
[Explanation] Zhang Huishen said that after the opening of the exhibition hall, many people came to visit every day. As the main explanation force, he explained to the visitors every day to let them know the story of the revolution.
[Concurrent] Zhang Huishen
I built this national defense education exhibition hall not only for my own pursuit, but also hope that through the exhibition hall, more people can understand the history, especially the young people to receive the education of the red spirit.
[Concurrent] Visiting student Liu Yaxuan
Through visiting the exhibition hall today, I realized that today's life is hard to come by. I want to love life more, love the motherland, and cherish the happy life that the revolutionary martyr exchanged with life and blood.
[Explanation] Zhang Huishen said that the happiest thing now is to explain the history of red to the public in the exhibition hall every day.
In the future, he will expand the scale of the exhibition hall to involve his family.
[Concurrent] Zhang Huishen
In the next step, our pavilion is still small, and we need to expand the scale, add physical objects, and enrich the content of the pavilion, so that visitors can better understand the (red) spirit of party history and military history.
Now that I am older, I plan to let my son, grandson, and granddaughter join the work of the pavilion to pass on this red spirit.
Chen Shiyu and Zhang Pengxiang report from Qi Jiancang in Xingtai, Hebei
Editor in charge: [Tian Boqun]