April 5, the Pure Brightness Day (the 5th solar item in the Chinese lunar calendar), is the traditional day for Chinese to pay respect to the dead at their tombs. A delegation from North Carolina of the US and the officials and some citizens of Guidong County of Hunan Province, jointly held a memorial ceremony for, Robert, a pilot of the Flying Tigers, or the American Volunteer Group, in the Anti-Japanese War, who sacrificed his life for the freedom of China in September,1944.

 

Robert was from North Carolina, whose bomber crashed on a mountain near Guidong County after a fierce battle with the Japanese fighters. Local residents made a tomb for him, until 2005, when his remains were returned to his hometown.

 

His family also came with the visiting delegation to express their gratitude to the people in Guidong.

 

"Robert did a lot to make the world a better place to live in during the anti-fascist war years ago, and now he is the link between Hunan and North Carolina," said Black, the head of the delegation.

 

(Chinanews April 7, 2007)