Oriental Network Zhongxiang news reporter Chen Haozhou
On the morning of July 1, at the meeting to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the opening chorus attracted attention.
"We are the successors of communism, inheriting the glorious traditions of our revolutionary ancestors, loving the motherland, loving the people, and the bright red scarf fluttering on the front chest..."
"We Are the Successors of Communism", a well-known Song of the Young Pioneers of China, was formerly the theme song of the movie "Hero Little Eight Road" released in 1961.
Back in 1958, after the Kinmen Artillery Battle broke out, more than 160 Young Pioneers from Xiamen's Heshan Fourth Central Primary School (now He Cuo Primary School) set up the "Frontline Youth Branch Activity Brigade," which helped the PLA deliver boiling water, wash military uniforms, wipe shells, dig trenches, and even shuttle through artillery fire.
The children's deeds were reported by the media and spread throughout the country, He Mingquan, He Jiaru and other 13 Young Pioneers were affectionately known as the "Hero Little Eight Road", and the lyricist Zhou Yuhui and the composer Ji Ming wrote their deeds as "We Are the Successors of Communism".
In October 1960, the Shanghai Film Studio filmed the film "Hero Little Eight Road" and "We Are the Successors of Communism" became the theme song of the film. At the meeting to comfort the three armed forces on the front line in Xiamen, the members of the "Hero Little Eighth Road" team and the small actors of the crew also sang this song on stage.
In 1961, with the national screening of "Hero Little Eight Road", the song was widely sung among the masses. In September of the same year, when Chairman Mao Zedong met with British Field Marshal Montgomery who was visiting China in Wuhan, he said on the issue of the heir of the CCP leader: "The word 'heir' is not good, I have no land, no real estate, and no deposits in the bank. The 'red scarf' sings: We are the successors of communism. It is good to call 'successor', this is the language of the proletariat. This gives a new meaning to the term "successor."
In 1978, this song was identified as the song of the Young Pioneers of China, and since then it has been engraved in the hearts of generations of people, growing up with generations of children.