Zhang Zhaohong: In memory of Yang Mei and Yang Zhenwei (picture)

Zhang Zhaohong: In memory of Yang Mei and Yang Zhenwei (picture) Phoenix Zhang Zhaohong Former Phoenix China Week Chairman Ms. Yang Mei is originally from the UK, but has a fiery heart for China...

Phoenix Zhang Zhaohong Former Phoenix China Week Chairman Ms. Yang Mei is originally from the UK, but she has a fiery Chinese heart... I received an email from Phoenix China Week Vice Chairman Ms. Diana Ho. I was surprised to learn of the death of former China Week Chairman Ms. Mai Young. I am deeply saddened and would like to express my deepest condolences. I got to know Mr. and Mrs. Yang Mei and Yang Zhenwei through China Week activities. Yang Mei served as the chairman of the early China Week and enjoyed a lot of popularity in Chinese and Western societies. China Week has been a success over the years, and Yang Mei, her husband and her family have made a lot of contributions. I am relatively familiar with Yang Mei’s husband Jung “Johnny” Wai Young (full English name is Jung “Johnny” Wai Young), who is usually called “Johnny”. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a Nuclear Weapons Supervisor, worked in the United Kingdom, and was sent to Taiwan to serve for three years. After twenty years of military life, he retired in 1972. He then served at Luke AFB for another twenty years. After retiring in 1994, Johnny became an active member of the local overseas Chinese community. He served as a leader of the Military Association and the Senior Citizens Association, and has been participating in and assisting his wife's work in China Weekly for many years. I've been to Johnny's house many times since the 1990s. The front of their house is very special. The mailbox was designed and made by Johnny himself. It looks like a small temple, painted with red walls and black tiles. You can tell the Chinese sentiment of the owner at a glance. There are also many Chinese cultural materials and artworks in his home. They knew that I was collecting information on overseas Chinese communities, and they enthusiastically answered my questions about overseas Chinese communities and China Week. Yangmei and Johnny have very strong interest and affection for Chinese culture. Sometimes, "China" is even more Chinese than us. They talked about the early China Week, which was attended by 200,000 to 300,000 Chinese and Western people every year. It was a huge event and had a broad and profound impact on mainstream society. As sister cities of Phoenix, Chengdu in mainland China and Taipei in Taiwan will participate in China Week activities every other year. Local Chinese restaurants, businesses, Chinese schools and cultural and art units also promote Chinese culture on the China Week platform, making China Week activities colorful. The Yangmei couple recorded these activities in files. Johnny once turned on the computer and introduced to me that there was a lot of data on China year after year in its memory. Johnny said that due to the large storage capacity, he had replaced the computer with a larger capacity to facilitate the review of the data. In the video of China Week that year, you can see the bustling and lively scene. When reading the China Annual Magazine, I felt that the design of the annual magazine was very exquisite and the content was quite exciting. There were also articles personally written by Yang Mei and Johnny. They used their own personal insights to introduce Chinese culture and let Hispanics have a deeper experience. When the Chinese Jade Channel was launched in the United States twenty years ago, Johnny asked me to install satellite TV so that he could learn more about China, Hong Kong and Taiwan through more channels, and he discussed with me information about all aspects of Chinese culture and art. He once took me to the backyard of their home and saw many various tools. Johnny’s long-term military life has allowed Johnny to develop a flexible mind and a pair of skillful hands. He repairs and replaces many equipment in the house himself, including working on antique cars. They know how to live well. The kitchen at home is equipped with all stainless steel equipment, and the living room is equipped with various audio and video equipment. Sometimes they also drive to antique car shows and gatherings with friends. In addition to serving as the chairman of China Week, Yang Mei has also been in charge of finance for a long time and devoted a lot of effort and time to China Week activities. Johnny and his family are very considerate. There are many props and folk art used in Chinese Weekends. They are all made by Xiao himself and are very creative. I have been to their home several times. The last time I saw Johnny was several years ago, when he was in poor health. At that time, he was drinking tea in a teahouse. He was weak due to surgery and carried an oxygen tank with him. Although he did not speak much, there was still a passion in his eyes, showing his love for life. Johnny passed away not long after, and the overseas Chinese community, relatives and friends were very sad and sorry. Johnny met Mai Young in England when he was young. Soon after, Mai became Johnny's wife. From then on, she became obsessed with the profound Chinese culture. She was originally from England, but had a passionate Chinese heart. After their marriage, they had a son and two daughters, and their children also became loyal supporters of China Zhou. About two years ago, I received a call from Ms. Yang Mei, asking me to install Phoenix TV. When we met, Yang Mei was in a wheelchair due to a lumbar injury. Since Phoenix Satellite TV has CCTV-4's Chinese and English channels, Yang Mei can understand and appreciate Chinese culture more easily, and her love for China has never changed. Considering her mobility issues, I specially installed a main unit in the hall and an extension in the kitchen to avoid viewing interruptions caused by her mobility issues. A Chinese and foreign couple are so passionate about Chinese culture that they have contributed a lot to the success of China Week over the past twenty years. They have also continued to learn and make progress in it. It can be said that their later years are fulfilling and meaningful. The sunset also allows people to see the gorgeous glow.

Yang Mei and Yang Zhenwei took a photo