Descendants of the late U.S. General Joseph Stilwell, who were invited to watch the China's V-Day military parade in Tian'anmen Square in Beijing described the commemoration as awe-inspiring, sharing their reflections on the historic occasion and the legacy of their ancestor.
During World War II, Stilwell served as commander-in-chief of the U.S. armed forces in the China-Burma-India Theater and provided great support to the Chinese people's resistance against Japanese aggression.
After he died, his descendants have remained committed to enhancing people-to-people exchanges between the United States and China.
On Wednesday, Stilwell's great-granddaughters, Nancy Millward and Susan Cole, were among the invited guests at the grand commemorative event marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
They shared their feelings after watching the parade and expressed belief that General Stilwell would agree with Chinese President Xi Jinping's message on peace.
"We are just walking away from the momentous event and the parade. It was awe inspiring," said Susan Cole.
"Absolutely spectacular. The precision was incredible, I kept thinking what General Stilwell would think. Watching it I think he would be so pleased to see just how far Chinese military has come. And the sense of national pride was absolutely overwhelming. And I think General Stilwell would agree with President Xi Jinping's thought of peace and humanity for the future. What an event! We are so honored to be here, so proud. What a day!" said Nancy Millward.
Descendants of late US General Stilwell watch V-Day parade in Beijing
Descendants of late US General Stilwell watch V-Day parade in Beijing
The organizing committee of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games has unveiled the titles, creative visions, and first talents of the opening and closing ceremonies, as Thursday marked 50 days before the event officially gets underway.
Scheduled from March 6 to 15 across multiple Italian cities, the Games will bring together 665 athletes from 50 countries and regions to compete for 79 gold medals across six sporting disciplines.
The opening ceremony, titled "Life in Motion," will be staged at the historic Arena di Verona, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, presenting a tribute to change and transformation that seeks to redefine disability through a new harmony between people and the environment.
"I paid close attention to the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which I consider one of the three or four most beautiful in the history of Olympic ceremonies. This time at the ancient Arena di Verona, we will place greater emphasis on showcasing the human element," the ceremonies' artistic director Alfredo Accatino told a Chinese reporter at the event.
The closing ceremony, themed "Italian Souvenir," will be held on March 15 at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, guiding athletes, volunteers, and fans through a journey that captures the emotions and memories of the Games after days of competition and achievement.
Craig Spence, the International Paralympic Committee's Chief Brand and Communications Officer, believes that Italy will deliver "the best Paralympic Games" following the benchmark set by the Beijing Winter Paralympics in 2022.
"I think what China did in Beijing has really set the benchmark for all future teams competing in the Paralympic Winter Games in terms of performance. That's why I think Milano-Cortina will be the best Paralympic Games we've ever seen for sports," he said.
Milano-Cortina Paralympics reveal opening, closing themes as Games draw near
