A Message in Flowers--Memorial Event at SoongChingLing Mausoleum
Apr 12,2023
The gentle spring breeze carried the sweet fragrance of pear blossoms, heralding the arrival of the Qingming festival. With it came a season of remembrance. Early in the morning of April 6, Grade 8 IDMS students and Grade 5 IDPS students visited the Soong Ching Ling Mausoleum located at No. 21 Songyuan Road. Dressed in formal attire, the students paid tribute to the memory of Madame Soong Ching Ling, expressing the heartfelt love they've inherited from the great advocate of patriotism, democracy, internationalism, and communism.
Shrouded by drizzling rain, the remembrance ceremony was held in a somber atmosphere. The process itself was simple, solemn and meticulous, including approaching the statue of Madame Soong Ching Ling, placing flower baskets, and finishing with a respectful bow.
Every student offered their own handmade yellow chrysanthemums in front of Madame Soong Ching Ling's tomb. As the old saying goes, "Be noble of character just like the chrysanthemums and the rocks." The students paid their respects with silent dignity, channeling their admiration into every petal of the delicate flower.
After the remembrance ceremony concluded, the students proceeded to the Soong Ching Ling Memorial Hall. With its abundant photographs, videos, and relics, the memorial hall retells the life story of Madame Soong Ching Ling through six main themes: her youth as a member of the prestigious Soong family, her determination toward the democratic revolution, her commitment to fight for the new People’s Republic of China, her struggles to create a better future for the nation, her dedication to world peace, and her legacy that will shine brightly for generations to come. All those threads guided the students through a legendary journey that spanned across decades. The biography and accomplishments of Madame Soong Ching Ling served as a powerful inspiration that encouraged the students to strive for a better future.
Before the remembrance ceremony was held, four of our International Division Middle & High School students were selected last week to serve as school representatives. Those four students participated in the CWI's 130th Anniversary of the Birth of Soong Ching Ling - Qingming Remembrance Ceremony on behalf of Shanghai Soong Ching Ling School, presenting flower baskets to the statue of Madame Soong Ching Ling to convey the highest respect afforded by all SCLS members.
Photo source：CWI WeChat official account
After all these years, Madame Soong Ching Ling's ideals still resonate within the spirit of SCLS, and her teachings still ring true in young minds today. By paying tribute to our namesake predecessor, SCLS students endeavor to follow in the footsteps of this inspiring figure, striving to become inheritors and promoters of her revolutionary spirit and noble character.
