A Date with Deep Blue (Strong Military Frontline)

On the morning of April 23, at the Navy Museum's Navy Heroes Square in Qingdao, Shandong, military songs echoed as the Navy held a ceremony to pay tribute to the heroes of the People's Navy. The naval troops stationed in Qingdao and representatives of model soldiers, dressed in formal attire, lined up neatly to pay their respects to the heroes and martyrs.

In recent days, the Navy has held various activities across the country, including open days at military camps and warships, military music performances, and flag-raising ceremonies, allowing the public to meet with over 40 active-duty vessels. Cities such as Shanghai, Dalian in Liaoning, Qingdao, and Ningbo in Zhejiang organized synchronized themed light shows, illuminating blessing slogans on large screens of landmark buildings, and playing a series of promotional videos and posters of the People's Navy, collectively celebrating the 77th anniversary of the People's Navy.

By 8 a.m., a long line had formed next to the gangway at Dock 3 of Qingdao Port, with crowds spontaneously arriving for a deep blue appointment. "The development of the People's Navy is changing rapidly; looking at these impressive new equipment, how can one not feel proud!" said 65-year-old veteran Wu Dongdong during his visit to the open ship event.

"The real warships are even larger and more spectacular than I imagined!" Onboard the Navy's Yangcheng Lake ship, a girl in a wheelchair solemnly presented her drawing of the Yangcheng Lake ship to the officers and soldiers aboard. During the open ship event, the Qingdao Social Welfare Institute and Children's Welfare Institute organized visits for their service recipients to experience naval culture. The children expressed their admiration for the People's Navy with their innocent strokes. Third-class sergeant Xu Chang of the Navy's Yangcheng Lake ship said, "The care and trust of the people are our source of strength. We will surely practice hard to win and live up to our mission."

In addition to visiting the ships, the open event also featured an interactive experience project called "Step into Navy Blue," which included demonstrations of flag signaling, wearing fireproof suits, tying knots, and donning diving gear, providing the public with a vivid national defense education lesson.

At the dock, Navy Wuhu ship soldier He Maotian demonstrated to the public how to tie naval knots: "Pulling this rope out from here, isn't it very secure?" Two young boys were trying it together, and they said in unison, "Yes! The tighter you pull, the tighter it gets." Looking at the excited faces of the children, He Maotian said, "The army and the people have always been like fish and water. A child's 'Thank you for your hard work, Navy uncle' and 'I want to be a sailor when I grow up' are the highest compliments for us."

At the southern end of the motherland, a certain unit of the Southern Theater Command Navy Air Force held an open day event, where over 200 teachers and students from four schools came to the naval camp to watch promotional videos of the People's Navy, experience disassembling firearms and shooting, and enjoy a themed calligraphy and painting exhibition... The increasingly rich open camp activities have become a window for the People's Navy to showcase its achievements in building a strong military and enhance the bond between the military and the people.

"Welcome home!" On the afternoon of April 22, the Navy's Taizhou ship arrived in Taizhou, Jiangsu, where representatives from various sectors waved national flags and shouted in unison. The Taizhou ship cut through the waves, and the officers and soldiers, dressed in pristine white uniforms, waved to the hometown people from the deck. The Taizhou ship is named after "Taizhou," the birthplace of the People's Navy, expressing the deep feelings of the People's Navy for this red hot land.

The mascot "Wuyouyou," modeled after the Przewalski's horse, made its debut on the Navy's Urumqi ship, integrating cultural symbols from Urumqi, Xinjiang, and becoming a new cultural card for the city and ship; representatives from Zixing, Hunan boarded the Navy's Dongjiang Lake ship to bring the officers and soldiers artistic performances rich in Zixing characteristics, such as "I Am Waiting for You at Dongjiang Lake" and "Liu Hai Cuts Firewood"; Zhangye in Gansu held a signature event to pay heartfelt tribute to the officers and soldiers of the Navy's Zhangye ship, conveying good wishes... The city takes pride in the ship, and the ship considers the city its home, with the "two-way journey" between the city and the warship writing a touching chapter of unity between the military and the people.

(Wang Pei, Hu Jiajie contributed to the writing)