Guojie Cai, A solemn moment (PEOPLE 2024)

A grand musical fireworks gala was held at Elder Park in the Adelaide Festival Centre on the evening of January 26th, 2024, to celebrate Australia Day. A stage and giant screens were set up on the green square by the Torrens Lake, and the festive atmosphere was strong with lights and decorations everywhere. Thousands of citizens gathered there to celebrate. After the national costume parade, a solemn flag-raising ceremony was held at dusk. Six honor guards representing the army, navy, and air force marched towards the flagpole, while the band played the national anthem and the vast majority of the crowd stood at attention. I quietly approached them, crouched down, looked up, and through the viewfinder, captured the solemn and proud expression of the veteran flag-bearer at that moment.

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