守护飞虎队历史 让残碑背后的家国记忆重新鲜活

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the efforts of the Yunnan Provincial Flying Tigers Research Association in preserving the history and memory of the Flying Tigers and their contributions during the Anti-Japanese War, emphasizing the importance of historical sites and personal stories in understanding this period [1][3][4]. Group 1: Historical Preservation - The Flying Tigers Research Association, led by Gan Yun, has been actively collecting and researching historical materials related to the Flying Tigers, including identifying and restoring the graves of fallen pilots [3][4]. - The Kunming Chinese Air Force Cemetery, established in 1938, is one of the eight air force cemeteries set up during the Anti-Japanese War, housing over 500 martyrs, many of whom have unidentifiable graves due to war damage [3][4]. Group 2: Personal Stories and Community Engagement - Gan Yun shared stories of descendants of Flying Tigers pilots who have sought to honor their ancestors by locating their burial sites, highlighting the emotional connections and long-standing family hopes tied to these efforts [3][4]. - The article describes the poignant moments when descendants of American Flying Tigers visited China, expressing a desire for youth exchanges to foster understanding of their shared history [3][4][5]. Group 3: Educational Initiatives - Gan Yun views historical sites as "living textbooks" and aims to utilize these locations to educate future generations about the hard-won peace [4]. - The research association is also focused on documenting the oral histories of the last surviving veterans of the Hump Airlift, emphasizing the urgency of preserving these narratives before they are lost [4][5]. Group 4: Collaboration and Outreach - Increasing collaboration among experts, scholars, and collectors is noted, with efforts to gather and verify historical photographs and artifacts related to the Flying Tigers and the Anti-Japanese War [5]. - The article mentions a recent exhibition in the U.S. that sparked interest among American youth, indicating a positive step towards bridging historical memories across cultures [5].