1928年(nian),中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)共產黨(dang)(dang)領導的(de)(de)(de)革命武(wu)裝在(zai)南昌(chang)舉行震驚(jing)世界的(de)(de)(de)“八(ba)一南昌(chang)起義”失敗(bai)之(zhi)后,起義總指(zhi)揮之(zhi)一的(de)(de)(de)賀龍(long)(long)同(tong)(tong)志,放棄去蘇(su)(su)聯學習的(de)(de)(de)機會,向黨(dang)(dang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)央(yang)(yang)(yang)提出返(fan)回湘鄂邊,在(zai)洪湖(hu)、桑植、鶴(he)峰(feng)(feng)一帶組(zu)建中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)工(gong)農(nong)工(gong)軍(jun)(jun)(jun),得到(dao)黨(dang)(dang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)央(yang)(yang)(yang)的(de)(de)(de)同(tong)(tong)意。1928年(nian)3月,賀龍(long)(long)、關響應、段德昌(chang)等人在(zai)洪湖(hu)組(zu)建中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)工(gong)農(nong)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)二(er)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)團。1929年(nian)初,賀龍(long)(long)率(lv)領紅(hong)(hong)(hong)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)主力解放鶴(he)峰(feng)(feng)縣城,在(zai)鶴(he)峰(feng)(feng)創 建了湘鄂西第一個(ge)縣蘇(su)(su)維埃政府,賀龍(long)(long)同(tong)(tong)志11次進出鶴(he)峰(feng)(feng)縣城,率(lv)領中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)工(gong)農(nong)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)二(er)六軍(jun)(jun)(jun)團馳騁于湘鄂邊,開展了與(yu)國(guo)民黨(dang)(dang)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)隊長達數年(nian)的(de)(de)(de)艱苦卓(zhuo)絕(jue)的(de)(de)(de)戰(zhan)斗(dou)。后于1934年(nian)奉(feng)黨(dang)(dang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)央(yang)(yang)(yang)之(zhi)命由貴州轉戰(zhan)北上(shang),與(yu)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)央(yang)(yang)(yang)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)在(zai)陜甘寧會合,改編為中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)工(gong)農(nong)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)軍(jun)(jun)(jun)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)二(er)方面軍(jun)(jun)(jun),成為中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)革命斗(dou)爭(zheng)歷(li)史(shi)上(shang)一支(zhi)重要的(de)(de)(de)黨(dang)(dang)的(de)(de)(de)武(wu)裝。
1928年(nian)到1935年(nian),鶴(he)(he)峰(feng)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)各(ge)族人民(min)在中國共(gong)產黨的領(ling)導下,為開辟革命(ming)根據地,建立(li)、發(fa)展和(he)(he)保衛(wei)紅色政權進(jin)行了不(bu)屈不(bu)撓的斗爭。1959年(nian),中共(gong)鶴(he)(he)峰(feng)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)委、鶴(he)(he)峰(feng)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)人民(min)委員(yuan)會為了緬懷先烈(lie)(lie),激勵、教育群(qun)眾(zhong),決定在城南滿山紅建立(li)烈(lie)(lie)士(shi)陵(ling)(ling)園(yuan)。1978年(nian),陵(ling)(ling)園(yuan)進(jin)行了大規模的重建,并正式定名為“湘鄂(e)邊蘇區鶴(he)(he)峰(feng)革命(ming)烈(lie)(lie)士(shi)陵(ling)(ling)園(yuan)”。陵(ling)(ling)園(yuan)的主(zhu)要建筑物包括樓(lou)牌、賀龍銅(tong)像(xiang)、烈(lie)(lie)士(shi)祠、紀念碑和(he)(he)主(zhu)墓群(qun)。
進入陵園,沿著臺階(jie)向上約50米(mi),便(bian)是(shi)賀龍元帥銅像。基座與銅像高(gao)(gao)約兩米(mi),矗(chu)立(li)在綠(lv)草紅(hong)花叢中,顯得高(gao)(gao)大偉岸。在銅像的一側,便(bian)是(shi)烈士祠(ci)。祠(ci)內陳(chen)(chen)列著包括(kuo)蹇(jian)先為、徐錫(xi)如、陳(chen)(chen)連振、陳(chen)(chen)宗瑜等人在內的80多位(wei)烈士的畫像及簡(jian)介。
拾級而上(shang),來到革(ge)命烈(lie)士紀(ji)念碑(bei)。紀(ji)念碑(bei)位于整個(ge)(ge)烈(lie)士陵(ling)園的(de)中心,磨光青石(shi)碑(bei)面上(shang)鑲嵌(qian)著(zhu)“湘鄂(e)邊蘇區革(ge)命烈(lie)士紀(ji)念碑(bei)”12個(ge)(ge)大(da)字。21.8米(mi)高(gao)(gao)(gao)的(de)紀(ji)念碑(bei)舒展高(gao)(gao)(gao)聳,以(yi)簡潔(jie)巨大(da)的(de)形體,象征著(zhu)先烈(lie)們(men)磊落坦蕩(dang)的(de)胸懷和崇高(gao)(gao)(gao)偉大(da)的(de)獻身(shen)精神。
從紀念碑向上走到(dao)山(shan)頂,便是(shi)安葬著段德昌、王炳南、賀英三(san)位革(ge)(ge)命烈士(shi)忠骨(gu)的(de)主(zhu)墓(mu)群。主(zhu)墓(mu)群靜貯(zhu)于萬年青(qing)、雪松(song)叢(cong)中,漢白(bai)玉(yu)大(da)理石等雕(diao)花裝點(dian)其間,顯得(de)格外莊嚴肅(su)穆(mu)。主(zhu)墓(mu)的(de)后(hou)面是(shi)由賀龍元帥題(ti)寫的(de)“革(ge)(ge)命烈士(shi)們(men)的(de)事績永遠鼓(gu)舞著我們(men)前進”的(de)漢白(bai)玉(yu)大(da)理石屏風,點(dian)明(ming)了陵園的(de)主(zhu)題(ti)。