As a board member of the WWII Pacific War Memorial Hall in San Francisco, Betty Yuan often encounters a recurring question: "Why keep bringing up history from 80 years ago?" Her response is both personal and profound.
"Actually, I think there's another reason for mentioning this history—gratitude," says Yuan. "Thanks to the sacrifices of 35 million compatriots and the efforts of Chinese Americans who served to elevate the standing of Chinese people in the U.S., we are able to enjoy the identity and status we have in America today."
Yuan emphasizes the importance of remembering those who risked everything. "Without them, there would be no us today." That's why she believes in "continuing to tell this story, so that the next generation can understand, be grateful, and hopefully contribute to world peace."
The memorial hall she helps lead is the first overseas institution dedicated to illuminating the truth of China's resistance against Japanese militarism. More than 35 million Chinese people were killed during the war, a loss comparable in scale to the Holocaust yet far less memorialized globally.
Through photographs, military models, and personal artifacts, the exhibition highlights not only the horrors of war but also the camaraderie between Chinese and American soldiers who fought side by side for freedom and peace.
Yuan concludes with the hall's founding principle: "Respect History, Cherish Peace. Peace does not come on its own. It is something we must all work together to maintain." Her mission—and that of the memorial—is clear: ensure that sacrifice is never forgotten, and peace remains a collective responsibility.
Reporter: Guo Zedong
Video script & text: Guo Zedong
Cameraman: Guo Hongda
Video editor: Liang Zijian
Editor: Yuan Zixiang, James Campion, Shen He
