Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident and the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression

8 July the 106th year of the Republic (2017)

At 2pm on Saturday 8 July in the 106th year of the Republic (2017), the Allegiance to National Flag Committee of Sung Tao Society held the Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident and the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

On 7 July 1937, the Japanese army used the pretext of searching for lost soldier and demanded to enter the City of Wan-p’ing. The regimental commander Chi Hsing-wen (吉星文) refused and the Japanese attacked. Battle raged around the Marco Polo Bridge. On 17th July, Chairman Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石委員長) gave an address at Lu-shan. Some of his words are:

“If war is to break out, no matter whether you are from the south or from the north, no matter whether you are old or young, no matter who you are, you have a duty to defend national territory and fight against aggression. You have to be resolved to sacrifice everything.”

The whole of China was thus mobilized to fight against Japanese invasion. Eight years later China finally gained victory.

The programme of the Commemoration consisted: 

1. Offered bouquet in memory of soldiers and civilians who died in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
2. Speeches by special guests.
3. Homage to veterans of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Each participating veteran was presented with an Appreciation Certificate from the Chinese Kuomintang.
4. Film premier of Truth-Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident directed by Mr. Ch’en Chün-t’ien (陳君天先生).

On the day of Commemoration, twenty three veterans were presented with the Appreciation Certificate from the Chinese Kuomintang. However this Certificate was later presented to hundreds of veterans in mainland China, who were all deeply appreciative.