China Overseas Chinese Network, April 4. According to the US "Sing Tao Daily" report, Qingming Festival is a traditional sacrificial festival for Chinese people to express their grief to their ancestors. On this day, the living calm down from the hustle and bustle of real life to remember their ancestors. people.
On April 2, local time, more than 20 old overseas Chinese, new overseas Chinese and Chinese historians gathered at the Centennial Chinese Historical Cemetery in South Bay, California, to cherish the memory of nearly 300 pioneer Chinese workers who were buried here a hundred years ago. Pray for blessings in the cemetery, so that these souls who have no descendants in the United States can rest in peace.
The grassy cemetery is surrounded by golden canola flowers, and the words "Taishan" and "Ren's in Lidutou Village, Zhongshan Township" can be vaguely seen on the mutilated tombstones, revealing the vicissitudes of history.
From the age of 14 to 84, the descendants of three generations of Chinese descendants held a roster of more than 200 pioneer Chinese workers and read their names aloud one by one.
Dr.Barbara Voss, a Chinese historian and professor from Stanford University, and two young scholars from Harvard University also came to the scene.
Barbara said: "California South Bay Chinese Historical Cemetery and the more than 200 Chinese are an important part of Chinese American history. As a scholar, it is a great honor to witness the appearance of the cemetery and this worship event."
Among the crowd singing and reading the names of the first overseas Chinese, a group of young people particularly attracted everyone's attention. They were the 14-year-old twin grandsons and granddaughters of Mr. Wen, an elderly Chinese, with shy but sunny smiles. As the third generation of Chinese, they did not speak Chinese. Tai knows how to speak, but is very excited to say in English: "We are very proud as descendants of Chinese descent, it is very meaningful to participate in such an event, we hope to learn more about the history of the Chinese from the story of grandpa and pass her on. down."
The 84-year-old Barbara Tom, who has organized and participated in the event for many years, and many of her neighbors and friends are old overseas Chinese who have come to the United States for more than 50 years. They also said in English: "These gold rush eras came to the United States from China, and in St. Clark County and San Jose have made great contributions to the construction of the western part of the United States, but the pioneer Chinese who died in a foreign land because of the Chinese Exclusion Act and the San Jose Chinatown Fire are very worthy of the respect of future generations. Although they have no descendants, they are. The contribution of the cemetery should always be remembered by our descendants, and passed on from generation to generation. I hope more young people know this cemetery and learn about this history. We also need more young volunteers to join us. These histories are passed on.”