The 2011 Spring Memorial in Honor of National Martyrs was held at the National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine in the Yuanshan area of Taipei at 10:00 a.m. on March 29 to pay tribute to people who have sacrificed their lives for the nation. President Ma Ying-jeou presided over the ceremony, which was also attended by Vice President Vincent C. Siew, Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-Pyng, Judicial Yuan President Hau-Min Rai, Examination Yuan President Kuan Chung, Control Yuan President Wang Chien-shien, and Vice Premier Sean C. Chen.
President Ma, accompanied by Presidential Secretary-General Wu Jin-lin, arrived at the Martyrs' Shrine to the sound of military music. Inside the hall, the ceremony began with drums and bells. The chief officiator of the ceremony, the deputy officiators, and other participants took their places, after which the ROC national anthem was played. President Ma then lit incense and presented flowers in front of the spirit tablets of national martyrs. After an oration was read, the president and others attending the ceremony bowed before the tablets three times. Following the conclusion of the ceremony, the president expressed his respect and gratitude to representatives of the families of the martyrs.
President Ma and all others accompanying him and those taking part in the ceremony then headed to the plaza to present flowers to the martyrs. In remarks to the gathering, President Ma stated that a critical event took place that changed the nation's destiny 100 years ago in March. The nation's founding father Dr. Sun Yat-sen led the tenth revolutionary movement – the Huanghuagang Uprising – on March 29. Even though the uprising failed, Dr. Sun in his short account of the Huanghuagang Uprising said that this event was every bit as important as the Wuchang Uprising of October 1911, implying that without the Huanghuagang Uprising, the 1911 Revolution would never have happened.
President Ma stressed that Taiwanese were involved in the process of establishing the Chinese republic. Back when Dr. Sun planned the Huizhou Uprising, Lin Zumi of the Lin clan from Wufeng in central Taiwan pledged financial assistance to the cause. During the March 29 Huanghuagang Uprising, Lin Weige of the Lin clan from Banqiao in northern Taiwan donated 3,000 Japanese yen so that 19 students studying in Japan could board a vessel to Guangzhou where they joined the uprising. Moreover, participants in the movement also included Luo Fuxing from Miaoli in central Taiwan and Xu Zanyuan from Tainan in southern Taiwan. This demonstrates that Taiwanese not only provided funding, but also manpower. Of these individuals, Luo subsequently took part in resistance to Japanese rule in Taiwan and was arrested and executed. Prior to his execution, he penned the words, "Not dying at home, I will always be remembered by my descendants; dying in Taiwan, I will always be remembered by the Taiwanese!" The president commented that Luo transformed his love for his family into a love for the people of the nation, which is worthy of respect and admiration.
President Ma remarked that the past century has seen revolution, establishment of the nation, a war against Japan (1937-1945), and a communist rebellion, during which countless people have sacrificed their lives for the nation. Noting that at least 390,000 martyrs are enshrined at the Shrine, the president commented that we live in peace thanks to those who have sacrificed their lives and their youth to the nation. Besides paying tribute to the martyrs, even more important is to pass along their spirit, he said. Recipients at the 2011 National Youth Contribution Award ceremony two days ago, remarked the president, have demonstrated in their daily lives the six core values of Taiwan, namely, integrity, kindness, diligence, honesty, enterprising spirit, and tolerance. These values represent the spirit passed down by the martyrs from 100 years ago and constitute the moral force that has supported the nation through trials and tribulations over the years, he said.
President Ma commented that on January 1 of this year he expressed his four hopes for the future – educational reforms that provide a lasting solution, environmental stewardship that provides lasting viability, lasting justice, and lasting peace. The nation has encountered countless challenges over its 100 years, but there is light at the end of the tunnel, he said. The president expressed his hope that the people of the ROC will embrace the core values of the nation in its second century, third century, and many more centuries ahead. He called for people to promote the spirit of the martyrs and enable the ROC to be both respected by and inspiring to people around the world.
After concluding his speech, the president listened to remarks delivered by Lu Shuzhen (the granddaughter of martyr Lu Haodong), Zhang Jinchang (the great grandson of Sediq chieftain Mona Rudao, a fallen leader in the fight against the Japanese colonial government), Wang Chongwen (the grandson of martyr Wang Minchuan), and Wang Yingwen (the son of martyr Wang Shengming). All officials, descendants of martyrs, and members of the public attending the activities then stood in silence for 100 seconds to remember with gratitude the contributions of the martyrs.