The Sorrowful Memory

Today is May 12, 2009. I believe that every Chinese will never forget the same day of last year. It is the most devastating disaster which will be deeply embedded into the Chinese glorious history. Though a whole year has passed by, the memory of that earthquake is still as clear as then.
At 14:28 on May 12, 2008, a sudden earthquake attacked nearly more than half China. Thousands of hundreds of people died due to that unpredictable disaster. Among them, there were young children who were studying in their school as usual; there were old people who were staying home alone expecting their children to visit them after work; there were wives who were doing housework waiting for their husbands. Besides these, there were myriads of heroes who sacrificed themselves to save others. Every time when we come to the crunch, the ones who rush first at the most front lines are always our respectable soldiers. In this terrible earthquake, numerous soldiers devoted their lives in the rescue process. They had to take the risk of the potential earthquakes and the cracking down stones during the process while they had to come over the difficulties of blocked roads and the broken down public facilities. These soldiers also had their own families just like us. They also had parents to maintain and they also had children and wives to love. However, when disaster happened, it was their people who counted first forever in their minds. They deserved our highest respect and most genuine thanks. Besides, the leaders of our country also took measures to deal with the earthquake immediately and effectively. Our prime minister Wen Jiabao took the risk to go to Si Chuan where the condition was most severe instructing the rescue work. In just two months he commuted between Si Chuan and Beijing for three times. Regardless of status, he visited victims who had been saved and promised to do whatever he can to rescue others as soon as possible. As a prime minister, he had done a really great job. Apart from soldiers and authorities, many common people also behaved bravely and honorably in this disaster. I can clearly remember Tan Qianqiu, an ordinary teacher who sacrificed to protect his students. When he stretched his strong arms to embrace his students, he gave the hope to his students at the cost of his own life. This was our teacher, our excellent Chinese teacher. In fact, he was just a symbol and everyone throughout China was doing whatever he/she can to help the people suffering from the earthquake. At that moment, our love to our country was inflamed thoroughly. I felt so proud of my country. That emotion had never been so strong before. No matter what kind of disaster happens in the future, we will never give in to it, because we know there is a great country behind us who will support us to go through all the difficulties. We should always believe that our Chinese can come over all the disasters when we unite together. As our prime minister said disasters would prosper a nation, we are confident that the future of China will be bright and hopeful.
In retrospect, 2008 is a unique year to every Chinese. We went through the ice disaster, the Tibet riot, the devastating earthquake and the successful Beijing Olympic Games. We Chinese united together and never separated. The fact shows that we have done a remarkable job in terms of these events, even much better than others’ predictions. As a Chinese, I really feel proud of my companions who has gone through all these with me, and I really feel proud of my country. Let us strive together for the future of our country. Today we are proud of China, and tomorrow China will be proud of us.