Sailors’ children call for preservation of Zuoying military dependents’ villages

Описание: Military dependents who used to live in the Zuoying military dependents’ villages in Kaohsiung returned to the place of their youth today for a special ceremony. They were joined by Mayor Chen Chu, whose presence symbolized government support for preserving this unique part of Taiwanese culture. In 1949, as soldiers and their families left China and poured into Taiwan, naval service members settled in Zuoying.Over the years, the military dependents’ villages that they lived in have been rebuilt. The culture unique to the villages has faded.To bring back these memories, children of these sailors invited Mayor Chen Chu to join in laying flowers outside a naval memorial.Chen ChuKaohsiung MayorWe can join in solidarity and find more opportunities to understand one another. We can become the friendly, harmonious and beautiful city that we all hope to be, says Chen.Local organizations have proposed plans for preserving the villages.Chao YiMilitary Dependents’ Village AssociationI think that Zhongshan Hall, the sports center and the military band all have historic value. Shouldn’t we preserve these places and use contemporary cultural and creative ideas to turn them into future tourism attractions? asked Chao Yi, the director general of a local dependents’ village association.Sailors’ children hope that government agencies can assist in bringing life back to the places they called home. They believe that tourism and the cultural and creative industries can introduce more people to the unique culture found in military dependents’ villages.