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Students plan a memorial for earthquake victims

By Hu Meidong and Wang Lu (China Daily Fujian Bureau)
Updated: 2009-05-14 17:54

University students have gathered in Fujian to mourn those who died in Wenchuan earthquake and pay tribute to the volunteers who helped.

The most destructive earthquake in China's history struck Sichuan's Wenchuan county on May 12, 2008, affecting parts of the Shaanxi and Gansu provinces.

The 8.0 magnitude earthquakes left more than 87,000 people dead or missing with property loss valued in official estimates at more than 800 billion yuan (117 billion U.S. dollars).

University students stood in silence for three minutes to mourn the victims. They then sang, waving their arms and shouting "Come on China, come on Wenchuan".

Gong Qian, a student from Zhicheng College of Fuzhou University, said she and fellow students planned this memorial ceremony over the past two weeks, but she still found it hard to attend.

"Looking at the ribbons and candles, I wanted to cry," she said.

"When we tie a yellow ribbon on our wrists, we are cherishing a wish in our hearts, for those from the devastated quake zone."

Chen Decan, an official of Fujian Normal University, said he hopes such student-organized memorials will become a tradition.

"University students voluntarily organized the activity to commemorate victims in the 5.12 earthquake, which shows the caring hearts and patriotism of the contemporary graduates.

“With the concerted efforts the1.3 million Chinese people will rebuild the homes soon" he said.

Although it's forbidden to make the best wishes for the earthquake victims people at Fuzhou Minjiang Park set off traditional flying lamps made of paper.

Students said the memorial ceremony was not only to mourn the dead, but also to remind fellow people of their responsibility to help the earthquake survivors and to continue the reconstruction work at the affected areas.