Heroes Go Home ｜ Portrait of Martyrs： ＂Meeting＂ through Time and Space

The martyrs walked out from here,

Exchange blood for the rise of the nation;

The students are writing here,

Keep the martyrs forever with thoughts.

Wang Qiyue and Li Jiafa are both from Nanling, Wuhu.

Seventy years ago, the two men went to the Korean battlefield together.

Li Jiafa blocked the enemy’s heavy gunfire with his chest.

Give your life at the age of 19.

Over the years,

Wang Qiyue still often misses Li Jiafa,

The two have deep feelings, but there is no photo taken.

He felt very sorry.

Brushes paint heroes and heroes,

Helped the old man realize his dream.

"Li Jiafa looks like his father, with a long face. The whole person is thin, lively and enthusiastic." In the government of Jiafa Town, Nanling County, Wuhu City, 90-year-old Wang Qiyue said after receiving the "photo" portrait of him and the martyr Li Jiafa with trembling hands. When I was old, I couldn’t speak neatly and my hearing was not good, but Wang Qiyue recalled the past with reporters. "We have a good relationship. We are fellow villagers, fighting against US aggression and aiding Korea together. In the same platoon, I am a machine gun squad, and he is an infantry squad. We are all together when we are free."

Wang Qiyue is three years older than Li Jiafa, and she is more like a brother in her daily life. Looking at the "photo", the 90-year-old man gradually opened his mouth, and many fragments of memories that had been dusty for a long time came like a flood. "Li Jiafa can’t read, so he showed me the letter from his fiancee and the photo of his fiancee. It’s very nice and beautiful." "He was motivated. About one Sunday, he talked to me and said that he wanted to join the league, so I became his introducer."

In July, 1953, Li Jiafa’s company attacked Jiaoyan Mountain, which was held by the enemy. In the battle to capture the main peak, in order to clear the way for the blocked troops, he blocked the machine gun eye of the enemy bunker with his chest and died heroically at the age of 19.

"At that time, I was also on the battlefield. The enemy’s bullets were too dense, and Li Jiafa was injured in the thigh. He just dragged his injured leg and slowly climbed to the machine gun hole, about 100 meters. He climbed for 5 or 6 minutes and blocked the gun hole with his body. The soldiers behind him rushed up." After 70 years, Wang Qiyue is still impressed by the war scene. "I was covered in blood when I came down from the battlefield, and nothing was left."

Over the years, Wang Qiyue regretted not being able to leave a photo with his comrade-in-arms Li Jiafa. Li Jiafa’s military uniform photo when he was young gradually blurred in the old man’s mind. After learning the wishes of the elderly, the Academy of Fine Arts of Anhui Normal University immediately arranged for students to collect information, communicate repeatedly with Li Jiafa and Wang Qiyue’s family, and created a group photo during the winter vacation.

"He died, we are alive, and when I saw his portrait, I felt ashamed, not a taste." Staring at his "photo" with Li Jiafa’s military uniform, the old man’s mottled face showed a lonely look. "I didn’t expect that we could stand together in military uniforms, and I am very grateful to people from all walks of life."

At the painting ceremony, Li Jiafa’s sister Li Jiaying was also present. There were 10 Li brothers and sisters, and Li Jiaying, 77, ranked fifth in Li Jiafa, was the only living immediate family member of Li Jiafa. "This painting is similar, especially my brother’s nose and mouth. I am very grateful to people from all walks of life, to the government, and to the Academy of Fine Arts of An Normal University." Li Jiaying said excitedly. The only photo my brother left in the world was taken at the age of 14. Unfortunately, there was no military uniform photo, which was also my mother’s regret before her death.

Portraits of martyrs, so that heroic martyrs can meet their relatives and comrades through time and space — — Since November 2021, many students from the Academy of Fine Arts of Anhui Normal University have used their brushes to paint portraits of martyrs without any video records during their lifetime, which has aroused widespread social repercussions. At present, Anhui Normal University continues to solicit the demand for "portraits of martyrs" for the public welfare of the whole society, helping more martyrs and relatives to realize their dreams.

Netcom Office of Wuhu Municipal Committee of CPC

Anhui Normal University Party Committee Propaganda Department

Anhui Normal University Academy of Fine Arts

Wuhu communication center

Joint production