Megan Brady, great granddaughter of Richard Brady, a surgeon of the Drum Tower Hospital during the Nanjing Massacre, moved everyone at a candlelight vigil Friday evening in Nanjing with a song she composed and sang on her own. 82 years ago, her grandfather came forward to sheltered and rescued many Chinese people during the massacre.
It was midnight at Nanjing Lukou International Airport. Megan, who is 17, arrived at the airport after taking a long-haul flight from Canada with her father Steve. It took them 20 hours to complete the journey.
This is the fourth time for Megan and her father to be here for the state memorial ceremony for the Nanjing Massacre victims.
Lonely nights, Clouded and grey, the song Mercy begins like this.
Megan Brady, great granddaughter of Richard Brady
My great grandfather
Dr. Richard Brady was a physician
with the Drum Tower Hospital in Nanjing
In 1937 he and his fellow doctors
conveyed their compassion
at the risk of their own lives
That’s why I have written this song
Richard Brady works at the Drum Tower Hospital in Nanjing from 1931 to 1942.
Megan and her father visited the Drum Tower Hospital on December 10, 2019.
the pictures of Richard Brady
Peng Zhuyu, CPC secretary of the Drum Tower Hospital
In December 1937, Richard Brady sent
his wife and daughter to Hong Kong
but was prevented by the Japanese
from returning to Nanjing
It was not until in February 1938
that he got back to the Drum Tower Hospital
to help with Dr. Robert Wilson
in their efforts to shelter
and rescue the innocent Chinese people.
Steven Brady, grandson of Richard Brady
I know Dr. Qi Xiaomin
of the Drum Tower Hospital
She has been visiting Africa
once every year
which has impressed me a lot
She said she has been moved
by my grandfather’s heroic deeds
From 2017 to 2019, Megan was instructed by her father to gain a deeper understanding of the history about the Nanjing Massacre.
In 2018, Megan composed a song Mercy and was recorded on December 10 this year in Nanjing.
Li Sihan, composer of Mercy
I have grown up in Nanjing
and got used to the howling sirens
when the massacre victims
are remembered each year
Her song is very sincere
since lyrics and I applied the choir element
to make the rhythm more fashionable
so as to spread fraternity, love and peace
Megan Brady, great granddaughter of Richard Brady
This song expresses my admiration
for my great-grandfather
and my sympathy for the survivors
and victims of the Nanjing Massacre
This song is calling for peace
and a better future
This song is the utterance of my voice
In December 1937, more than 20 expatriates stayed behind in Nanjing to shelter and rescue the Chinese people during the massacre.
In 1996, John Rabe's granddaughter Mrs. Ursula Reinhardt revealed for the first time the Diaries of John Rabe in New York.
In 2015, Thomas Rabe, grandson of John Rabe, was presented the Medal for Chinese People’s Victory against Japanese Aggression.
From 2017 to 2019, Chris Magee, grandson of John Magee, visited Nanjing on six occasions to trace his grandfather’s footsteps in the ancient city.
December 13, 2019, the state memorial ceremony for the Nanjing Massacre victims
Steven Brady, grandson of Richard Brady
Nanjing is China’s first
international city of peace
which has made me aware
that we can create peace with love.
Megan, great granddaughter of Richard Brady
I think that my great-grandfather
would be proud of me and also of
the present-day Nanjing
People can draw strength from history
to embrace future peace with love
This is the voice of everyone.
(Source:ourjiangsu.com)
