228 Peace Memorial Day is observed in Taiwan every February 28 to honor the victims of the 228 Incident, also known as the 228 Massacre. This public holiday commemorates a significant event in Taiwan's modern history that began with a civil disorder on February 27, 1947, following a dispute between a cigarette vendor and a government officer. The subsequent uprising was violently suppressed by the military, resulting in thousands of deaths. On this day, the national flag is flown at half-staff as a mark of respect for those who perished. The holiday was officially recognized in 1995 when President Lee Teng-hui became the first Taiwanese leader to publicly address the massacre. As part of the observance, the president rings a commemorative bell in memory of the victims and bows to their families.