赴一场深蓝之约（强军一线）

On the morning of April 23, at the Navy Hero Square of the Naval Museum in Qingdao, Shandong, military songs resounded 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, stood in neat rows to honor 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 over 40 active-duty vessels to meet the public. 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 queue had formed beside the gangway at Pier 3 of Qingdao Port, with crowds spontaneously arriving for a deep blue rendezvous. "The development of the People's Navy is changing rapidly; seeing these impressive new equipment makes one 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!" On 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 on board. During the open ship event, social welfare institutions and children's welfare institutions in Qingdao organized visits for their service recipients to experience naval culture. The children expressed their admiration for the People's Navy with their innocent strokes. Chief Petty Officer Xu Chang of the Yangcheng Lake ship said, "The care and trust of the people are our source of strength. We will 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 pier, Navy Wuhu ship soldier He Maotian explained the tying methods of naval knots to the crowd: "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, 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 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 broke through the waves, and the officers and soldiers, dressed in white uniforms, waved to the people of their hometown from the deck. The Taizhou ship is named after the birthplace of the People's Navy, "Taizhou," 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 cultural programs rich in Zixing characteristics, such as "I Am Waiting for You at Dongjiang Lake" and "Liu Hai Cuts Firewood"; Gansu Zhangye held a signature event to pay tribute to the officers and soldiers of the Navy's Zhangye ship with heartfelt messages, 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)