US visitors honor Flying Tigers' war legacy

As Max Rasilla wheeled his suitcase through the bustling halls of Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Central China earlier this week, the Alfred University student felt a reluctant tug at the thought of ending his two-week journey in China.

"I don't want to leave China," says Rasilla, 22. "I have a 10-year visa, so I'll be able to come back. Next year, when I come back, I'll be a little bit more fluent (in Chinese)."

Rasilla fell in love with pandas in his childhood and once dreamed of becoming a panda keeper. That innocent fascination sparked his interest in learning Chinese, a journey that has since grown into something far more enduring. Now, majoring in ceramic art, Rasilla feels Chinese philosophy and culture are inspirational for his artworks.

He was among nearly 100 participants — mostly US students along with a few entrepreneurs — who traveled across China from July 17 to 30 to honor the legacy of the Flying Tigers, the American volunteer pilots who fought alongside Chinese forces against Japanese invaders during World War II.