BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhuanet) -- A deputy to the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, has proposed a memorial day to commemorate martyrs who laid down their liver for the nation and its people.

    "Hundreds of thousands of people who died in numerous battles against foreign aggression in China's modern history deserve the everlasting respect of the whole nation," Prof. Kong Lingren with the Medical College of the Guangdong-based Jinan University told Xinhua in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.

    He said it is a popular practice in many countries, including Russia and the United States, to set aside a special date for nationwide commemoration of martyrs.

    "We should have the same memorial day and make it a public holiday in order to highlight patriotic education among younger generations," he said at a panel discussion of the ongoing NPC annual session.

    He suggested commemoration activities on the special day include a state memorial ceremony with half-mast and presentation of wreaths to the martyrs' cemetery. "National museums and other patriotic education bases should open for free on this day," he added.

    In 1951, the Chinese government made Sept. 3 a date to commemorate China's victory in the war against Japanese aggression between 1937 and 1945.

    Among China's major days of celebrations are Teachers' Day on Sept. 10, Tree Planting Festival on March 12, and a day of aid to the handicapped on the third Sunday in May. Enditem