On July 19, a 69-member delegation of American students and teachers, organized by the Guangdong People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, arrived in Dongguan for a cultural and historical exchange. This exchange draws on the shared legacy of the Flying Tigers, the volunteer aviators who fought alongside Chinese forces during World War II.
The delegation visited the Dongguan Songshan Lake North District School, the Dongjiang Column Memorial Hall, and other educational and cultural sites, and had hands-on experience with traditional crafts such as sachet-making and watched performances of traditional Chinese arts.
The delegation brought about 500 students to China in just three years, according to Jeffrey Ballard Greene, chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, who has made it his mission to deepen people-to-people ties.
"The shared American and Chinese legacy of the Flying Tigers is the strongest connection our two peoples will ever have. There's nothing like it in history," Greene said at the opening of the visit.
He emphasized that the wartime cooperation offers a timeless lesson: "(the) Flying Tigers tells all of us we can cooperate no matter how bad things are. We have something in common."
Greene, whose foundation has championed youth exchanges, framed the current geopolitical climate as a reason for even greater engagement. "In today's world, for our two economies, we're number one, and China is number two. We have to cooperate, because the alternative to cooperation is nothing," he said.
For several participants, the visit carried deep personal resonance. Micah Kane Vinyard, the grandson of "Hump" pilot Jay Vinyard, reflected on his grandfather's survival and the enduring bonds formed during the war.
"My grandfather was very fortunate to survive so many of these missions, and his experiences made a major impression on him. Not just his service in the military, but the bonds that he formed with the Chinese people," Vinyard said. "The Chinese people have never forgotten that, and neither has my grandpa."
He added that today's world is different, but "our fates were intertwined then, and that remains true today. So it's important that we remember this shared past and build on this legacy."
Jackson Parker Long, a student from Pequea Valley School and the great-grandson of a Flying Tiger pilot, said the program gave him a tangible connection to his ancestor's deeds. "In this program, I'm just able to see what he did for you guys. It's really amazing. It really brings a sense of home," he said. He noted that without those historical ties, such an experience would not be possible.
Other students spoke of how the visit was changing their perceptions of China. John Martin Feister, also from Pequea Valley, stressed the importance of youth exchanges amid current tensions.
"I think it's really important, with the current tensions between our countries, to have a bridge between the communities," he said. "I think this foundation and the Flying Tigers in general are doing a great job of that, and it's just an honor and a privilege to be here."
Another student, Octavious Dupree Stuckman, expressed his delight with the cultural experiences, from the fragrant sachets to the dragon and sword dancing. "I love the culture here. The technology here is amazing," he said.
Greene also stressed the importance of firsthand experience over secondhand opinions. "I want them to learn. I want them to see. More importantly, I want them to make up their own minds," he said. He expressed excitement about bringing even more students to the U.S. in the future, including Chinese youth.
Reporter | Guo Chuhua
Photo | Guo Chuhua
Video | Pan Jiajun
