My Military Family

北京北外同文外國語學校10C 班 張嘉琪

指導教師：高 振

Once the movieThe Battle of Changjin Lakecame out,my family got into turmoil,in a good way.Everyone had been looking forward to seeing the movie since the trailers came out.It was one of the great battles my grandfather participated in decades ago.Yes,we are the decedents of a heroic soldier who had carried the burden of the whole country’s safety onto his bare shoulders.The daily challenges that military people face are beyond excruciating;yet,my grandfather and his comrades stepped forward to face the danger.Their intangible attributes of bravery and commitment have lasted enduring effects on his future generations.

My grandfather served as an artillery battalion commander in the fourth field army.Commanding up to five hundred people was not easy;looking at his old photos,under his collar badge of cannons dangled the medals that honored his achievements.He was one serious-looking old man who served his glorious purpose of protecting the country and thus ensured the peaceful world we live in today.

My memory of my grandfather is vague;he passed on the same year I was born.I could only hear stories about him from my father,and whenever he talked about him,I could feel gratitude for every word he said.He felt proud of having a father who had contributed to China’s prosperity,who had taught him and my uncle to become successful people,responsible and committed to their careers,family,and children’s future.Of course,the military spirit passed onto us,influencing our generation into becoming successful ourselves.

In the army,soldiers train to become good fighters,communicators,and executors.They all aim to achieve collective pride;people who can cooperate often can achieve more.This spirit enables them to overcome difficulties and challenge themselves to go above and beyond.The outstanding coordination ability and endurance all came from the day-to-day,dull,simple,and rough military life,which changes people’s habits unconsciously,changing people’s way of thinking and doing things in constant repetition,and changes people’s minds and endurance under long-term and high intensity of mental and physical pressure.Their superb ability to be self-controlled and flexible strain capacity tend to be more evident than ordinary people.Living in a household where I have a military grandfather made my childhood life an arena,a battleground with my sister.We both strive for excellence as much as we do,like our father,and try to refine ourselves constantly.Though I’ve never seen my grandfather in person,I know from the bottom of my heart that I’ve got the military spirits in me.

The children of military families commonly go through a great deal of negative changes.We have more complex situations than other families,and that’s inevitable.The ups and downs have never stopped,but because of the military spirit,I am more adaptive and have become more responsible and robust than ever.I,too,feel proud of my family,my grandfather,and gratified by his military spirit and how it shaped me.