On August 14, 1937, the first aerial battle of the eight-year War of Resistance against Japan broke out in the skies above Jianshui Airport in Zhejiang Province between China and Japan. Since then, August 14 has become a symbol of victory for the Republic of China Air Force and is designated as Air Force Day. On Saturday, August 10, the Los Angeles Air Force Association held its annual meeting and celebrated “8.14 Air Force Day” in Rosemead. The event was attended by over a hundred guests, including Director Chen Minyong and Deputy Director Fang Qiongyi of the Los Angeles Overseas Chinese Center, Mayor John Wu of San Gabriel, Mayor Thomas Wong of Monterey Park, representatives from Needles, veterans, military families, and various overseas Chinese organizations.
President Yu Ruoxi of the Los Angeles Air Force Association expressed gratitude for the support of overseas Chinese in organizing the annual flag-raising ceremony for the past 50 years in Needles. He thanked the consulate in Los Angeles and the local overseas Chinese community for their support in allowing the national flag of the Republic of China to fly in the United States. The close ties between Needles, where many veterans reside, and the Air Force Association led to the participation of former Mayor Janice Paget and the first Chinese-American city council member of Needles, Robert Yee, in the celebration of Air Force Day.
The celebration of Air Force Day began with the entry of the Air Force flag troupe, followed by the singing of both the American and Republic of China national anthems, and the Air Force anthem. The Association’s mission is to serve military veterans, and for nearly half a century, it has cooperated with Needles to hold the annual flag-raising ceremony, which has made unique contributions to strengthening Taiwan-US relations and promoting diplomatic and overseas Chinese affairs.
Director Chen Minyong of the Los Angeles Overseas Chinese Center emphasized that Taiwan’s current democratic freedom and economic prosperity are safeguarded by the military and the Air Force plays a crucial role in ensuring the security of the Taiwan Strait. He thanked the members of the Air Force Association for their continued support and efforts in promoting Taiwan’s development and foreign relations, presenting honorary plaques to three platinum members of the association with the inscription “Thank You for Your Kindness”.
Many of the volunteers who assisted in organizing the annual meeting are second-generation members of the Air Force. Mayor John Wu of San Gabriel, who just returned from a trip to Taiwan, shared his deep impression of Pingtung, where he grew up in the Air Force Victory Village and studied at the Huaisheng Middle School named after Air Force martyr Chen Huai.
Mayor John Wu, himself from an Air Force family, expressed his special affection for the Air Force and his participation in the Air Force Association activities as a way of honoring his ancestors and showing respect to his Air Force predecessors.
Mayor John Wu was honored to be invited to participate in the annual meeting celebrating Air Force Day and presented certificates of commendation to the directors of the Air Force Association, thanking them for their contributions to the community. He also expressed gratitude to the association members for spreading the spirit of the Air Force overseas.
Former Mayor Allen Wu of Walnut City, while presenting certificates of commendation, shared a story about city council employees voluntarily adding the Chinese characters to the certificates. He found that many young Americans are supportive of Taiwan, naturally averse to communism, leading them to include the recipients’ traditional Chinese names on the certificates, further solidifying the enduring friendship between the Republic of China and the United States.
As a former Air Force member and chairman of the Southern California branch of the Republic of China Veterans Association, Yang Zhennan emphasized that the event brought together over thirty veterans from various military branches. The camaraderie among the veterans of the Republic of China in Los Angeles remains strong, and they will continue to steadfastly support Taiwan and the Republic of China.