Roundup: Overseas Chinese in N. America mark 70th anniversary of WWII victory

Overseas Chinese in North America on Saturday held various events to commemorate the end of World War II as well as the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression..

In New York, several associations affiliated with the United Chinese Association of Eastern United States (UCAEUS) convened in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza near the UN headquarters.

"We are not commemorating the history with the purpose to create hatred, but we wish to prevent this kind of tragedy from happening again in any corner of the world," said Liang Guanjun, president of UCAEUS.

Zhang Qiyue, Chinese Consul-General in New York, was also present and delivered a speech, saying that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, which symbolizes the fruit of the global victory against Fascism.

"Although the war was over 70 years ago, we should never forget the pains of the war," she said. "We wish people in the world, along with the Chinese people, to remember history and build a more peaceful and harmonious world in the future."

Following the speeches, some Chinese-Americans performed dances and sang several popular songs about the anti-Japanese war.

Early Saturday morning, the United Fujianese American Association met in Chinatown in downtown Manhattan and marched to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum where they displayed a huge Chinese flag in one of the U.S. Aircraft Carriers that served in the WWII.

On the same day, 14 Chinese associations also presented a picture exhibition entitled "Learning from History, Cherishing Peace."

Chinese Jilin Province has provided about 200 historical photos for this event, which has also been supported by the Jewish community.

In Vancouver, Chinese-Canadians, dignitaries and members of the Canadian Forces gathered to mark the victory of WWII and to celebrate peace.

The ceremony honored more than 10,000 Canadians, including more than 600 Chinese-Canadians, who fought Japanese forces in the Pacific.

Up until the war, Chinese-Canadians in Canada faced discrimination and were not considered equal citizens. However, hundreds of them signed up to defend Canada anyway.

Alfred Wood, a retired officer, recalled that part of history with sorrow.

"There was a big debate about whether or not we should serve a country that didn't recognize us, but there was a huge contingent that let us serve and let us have faith," he said.

"After the war, we've proven our loyalty, we've proven that we are in fact Canadians, and perhaps they can reward us with equality, full justice. And that faith has been rewarded totally," Wood added.

To mark the victory day was aimed at teaching the subsequent generations that those who served were the heroes of their time. "They were the part of a generation so that now you, the youth, should recognize that and carry on that tradition," Wood said.

Vancouver and other communities on Canada's West Coast were home to many Chinese-Canadians who fought during the war.

Those who served and died earned equality for new generations of Chinese-Canadians, who now play a major role in shaping Vancouver's culture, economy and society. Kerry Jang, now a Vancouver city councillor, is one of them.

"Vancouver is a Pacific city and the end of the Second World War in the Pacific was really a big event for us. I mean, a good chunk of our population hailed back to China, and places like that. So you know to see the end of the war was a great thing and brought about a lasting peace in our country," Jang told Xinhua. Endi