GROUNDBREAKING
Ribbon Cutting March 22, 2009
On a very warm day, March 22, 2009, the official ribbon cutting ceremonies and ground breaking took place at the site of General Chennault’s Operations and command cave for the start of construction on the Flying Tiger Heritage Park Museum.
The entire site had been covered in red carpet, a stage erected, bands played and Dragon Dancers performed. Guest were each presented with gifts and had the opportunity to tour the grounds and the cave.
The Flying Tiger Historical Organization was represented by President Larry Jobe and Vice President KC Ma. Gifts were presented to the Lingui County folks on behalf of the organization.
The Flying Tiger Historical Organization presented a $500 dollar note which was awarded for every Japanese plane shot down. A framed picture of Bridal Veil Falls in Yosemite National Park showing just a single ray of light illuminating the base of the falls from a grey and foreboding sky was presented because it symbolically represents the effect the Flying Tigers had on the Chinese and the rest of the world when they appeared on the scene. In a bleak and depressing period of history they became a ray of hope for Chinese and Americans alike, a bright spot when both nations had little good news to hope for.
On the back of the picture was this statement “When the Japanese storm clouds darkened the skies of China in WW II, it was the Flying Tigers who cast a ray of light and hope to the Chinese people and in so doing foraged a bond of friendship that endures to this day. This photograph of bridal Veil Falls in Yosemite National Park well represents the hope, that in these trying times, the friendships developed between the Flying Tigers and the Chinese people will be strengthened and that our two great nations, working together, can again cast a ray of light illuminating a better world for all.”
NOTE: Click on a photo to enlarge, and click on the letter “i” at the bottom of each photo (in gallery mode) for information listed on each photo.
On a very warm day, March 22, 2009, the official ribbon cutting ceremonies and ground breaking took place at the site of General Chennault’s Operations and command cave for the start of construction on the Flying Tiger Heritage Park Museum.
The entire site had been covered in red carpet, a stage erected, bands played and Dragon Dancers performed. Guest were each presented with gifts and had the opportunity to tour the grounds and the cave.
The Flying Tiger Historical Organization was represented by President Larry Jobe and Vice President KC Ma. Gifts were presented to the Lingui County folks on behalf of the organization.
The Flying Tiger Historical Organization presented a $500 dollar note which was awarded for every Japanese plane shot down. A framed picture of Bridal Veil Falls in Yosemite National Park showing just a single ray of light illuminating the base of the falls from a grey and foreboding sky was presented because it symbolically represents the effect the Flying Tigers had on the Chinese and the rest of the world when they appeared on the scene. In a bleak and depressing period of history they became a ray of hope for Chinese and Americans alike, a bright spot when both nations had little good news to hope for.
On the back of the picture was this statement “When the Japanese storm clouds darkened the skies of China in WW II, it was the Flying Tigers who cast a ray of light and hope to the Chinese people and in so doing foraged a bond of friendship that endures to this day. This photograph of bridal Veil Falls in Yosemite National Park well represents the hope, that in these trying times, the friendships developed between the Flying Tigers and the Chinese people will be strengthened and that our two great nations, working together, can again cast a ray of light illuminating a better world for all.”
NOTE: Click on a photo to enlarge, and click on the letter “i” at the bottom of each photo (in gallery mode) for information listed on each photo.