The North Star Project, 2013-2014 Report Number Thirteen — Martyr’s Park, China, by Brock Erdahl
Martyr’s Park
Like any other country in the world, wars and other military conflicts have played an important role in shaping Chinese national identity and historical memory. The influence of the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) and Chinese Civil War (1927-1936 and 1946-1950) are particularly strong due to their proximity to the present and the involvement of the Chinese Communist Party in both. The veterans of these two wars are remembered today as heroes who helped to end the country’s century of humiliation at the hands of foreign invaders and establish communism in China. Martyrs Park, which is located across the road from a shopping mall in downtown Zhuhai, pays tribute to these veterans. It contains a series of tombstones, statues, relief, and small museum that connects local history with that of China at large.
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For all of the North Star Project 2013-2014 Reports, see https://mgjnorthstarproject.wordpress.com/
For all of the North Star Project 2013 Summer Reports, see http://www2.css.edu/app/depts/HIS/historyjournal/index.cfm?cat=10
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The North Star Project: Collaboration between The Middle Ground Journal Student Interns, The College of St. Scholastica, and North Star Academy 8th Grade Global Studies Classes, 2013-2014 School Year Reports.
Under the leadership of our North Star host teachers and student interns, The North Star Project has flourished for two years. For a brief summary, please see a recent article in the American Historical Association’s Perspectives on History, at:
http://www.historians.org/perspectives/issues/2013/1305/Opening-The-Middle-Ground-Journal.cfm
Having re-tooled and re-designed the collaborative program, we are drawing on the experience of our veteran student interns, ideas from our host teachers, and new projects provided by our incoming student interns. This school year The Middle Ground Journal will share brief dispatches from our North Star Project student interns, particularly from those who are currently stationed, or will soon be stationed abroad. As of the time of this report we have confirmed student interns who will be reporting from Mongolia, Southern China, Shanghai, northeastern China, The Netherlands, Tanzania, Ireland, England, Finland, Russia, and Haiti. We also have students developing presentations on theatrical representations of historical trauma, historical memory, the price individuals pay during tragic global conflicts, and different perceptions of current events from around the world. We will post their brief dispatches here, and report on their interactions with the North Star students and teachers throughout the school year.
Hong-Ming Liang, Chief Editor, The Middle Ground Journal, The College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN, USA, 2013-2014 School Year
(c) 2013 The Middle Ground Journal, Number 7, Fall, 2013. See Submission Guidelines page for the journal’s not-for-profit educational open-access policy.
The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy 
I like how the author connect the modern day to the past. He brings up a very valid point that wars and military involvement do shape the way we see things. Through an art piece like the one shown above it helps us to put some closure on the event and to always remember.
The wall looks so in depth in the way the picture is created. It is cool to see that other places in the world appreciate their veterans.
The pictures are really interesting and cool to look at, thanks for posting them! I thought it was kind of interesting that this monument is right across from a shopping mall because it looks kind of like in the woods and far away from other things. It’s kind of nice though because then you get two things in one. If you decide to go shop you can also take a look at your countries history at this monument and not feel like you have to travel far to do so.
I think it’s really cool how the soldiers are carved into the rock, it makes for a great mural! Being a military brat, any soldier/veteran’s monument is precious and worth sharing. I bet the history in the surrounding museums is very interesting!
I think is very cool that in every culture, there is a special tribute for the soldiers who fought in war. For me is very important that these kind of monuments are appreciated by the people since this wars are part of our history and about our identity.
At first glance of the wall I was wowed. It is beautiful and something very important to China’s history and a great way to remember the people who led them to where they are now. Gorgeous pictures, it definitely seems like a sight to see.