This happened 23 years ago, and it not only is a statement of defiance to authority represented by the "Tank Man", but also a testament to the humanity of the soldiers within that front tank who refused to run down an unarmed citizen engaged in protest of a tyrannical government. The Torch officially salutes the bravery of both entities. To explain, a Chinese man stands alone to block a line of tanks heading east on Beijing's Cangan Blvd. in Tiananmen Square on June 5, 1989.