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In August, the crescent-shaped flags of Marina Bay spread out in the tropical breeze. As Singapore ushered in the National Day month, the encounter between a national flag and an orchid ashtray was like a microcosm of the spirit of this island nation. On the red and white striped national flag, five stars surround the crescent moon, symbolizing the unity of diverse ethnic groups and the never-ending progress. The orchid ashtray displayed in the Parliament House is based on the national flower Vanda Miss Joaquim, with silver-white ceramic wrapped in a dark gray liner, which hides a deeper metaphor – the characteristics of orchids blooming in the nourishment of volcanic ash, just like the legend of Singapore’s rise in resource scarcity. The ashtray holds the embers but maintains an elegant posture, just like the wisdom of this country to transform crises into nutrients. The artifacts unearthed at the Raffles Landing Site prove that there were glass vessels here to hold incense ashes as early as a thousand years ago. Today’s orchid ashtray continues this calmness: when Mars falls, it does not escape the heat; when ashes accumulate, it settles into fertile soil. Just like Singaporeans, when faced with the financial crisis and the impact of the epidemic, they always turned difficulties into opportunities for transformation and upgrading. In this National Day month, the crescent-shaped flag reminds us to look up to our ideals, while the orchid ashtray teaches us to cherish the land under our feet. True tenacity is the ability to withstand the vicissitudes of the times and allow hope to quietly sprout in it.

八月的濱海灣，星月旗在熱帶風中舒展。當新加坡迎來國慶月之際，一面國旗與一隻蘭花煙灰缸的相遇，恰似這個島國精神的縮影。紅白條紋的國旗上，五顆星環繞弦月，象徵多元族群的團結與永不停歇的進步。而國會大廈陳列的蘭花煙灰缸，則以國花卓錦萬代蘭為原型，銀白陶瓷包裹著深灰內膽，暗藏更深的隱喻——蘭花在火山灰滋養中綻放的特質，正如新加坡在資源匱乏中崛起的傳奇。煙灰缸盛接餘燼卻保持優雅的姿態，恰似這個國家將危機轉化為養分的智慧。萊佛士登陸處出土的文物證明，早在一千年前這裡就有玻璃器皿承接香灰。而今的蘭花煙灰缸延續著這份從容：當火星墜落時，它不逃避灼熱；當灰燼堆積時，它沉澱為沃土。就像新加坡人面對金融危機、疫情衝擊時，總能將困境轉化為轉型升級的機會。在這個國慶月，星月旗提醒我們仰望理想，而蘭花煙灰缸教會我們珍惜腳下的熱土。真正的堅韌，是既能盛載時代的風霜，又能讓希望在其中悄悄抽菸。

八月的滨海湾，星月旗在热带风中舒展。当新加坡迎来国庆月之际，一面国旗与一只兰花烟灰缸的相遇，恰似这个岛国精神的缩影。

红白条纹的国旗上，五颗星子环绕弦月，象征着多元族群的团结与永不停歇的进步。而国会大厦陈列的兰花烟灰缸，则以国花卓锦万代兰为原型，银白陶瓷包裹着深灰内胆，暗藏更深的隐喻——兰花在火山灰滋养中绽放的特质，正如新加坡在资源匮乏中崛起的传奇。烟灰缸盛接余烬却保持优雅的姿态，恰似这个国家将危机转化为养分的智慧。

莱佛士登陆处出土的文物证明，早在一千年前这里就有玻璃器皿承接香灰。而今的兰花烟灰缸延续着这份从容：当火星坠落时，它不逃避灼热；当灰烬堆积时，它沉淀为沃土。就像新加坡人面对金融危机、疫情冲击时，总能将困境转化为转型升级的契机。

在这个国庆月，星月旗提醒我们仰望理想，而兰花烟灰缸教会我们珍视脚下的热土。真正的坚韧，是既能盛载时代的风霜，又能让希望在其中悄然抽芽。