More than 700,000 living Chinese veterans or late ones' family
dependents have received special medals from the government in
honor of their contributions to the victory
of the resistance war against Japanese
aggression.??
Starting on Aug. 15, the conferring work at home has so far
basically finished, according to close sources.??
Some patriotic personages, generals and international friends
from both home and overseas who were invited to attend the memorial
events in China were also given the medals.??
At a grand gathering yesterday at the Great Hall of the People,
Chinese President Hu Jintao
delivered medals to 10 representatives of the veterans and
patriotic personages in the war, which last from 1937 to
1945.??
Beforehand, eight central Chinese departments have issued two
joint circulars requiring the local governments at various levels
to ensure the medals be awarded to all those who deserved
them.??
The gilded medals, made of pure silver, measure 2 millimeters
thick and 60 millimeters in diameter. The design of the medal,
which consists of six swords, the figure 60, five stars, the pagoda
in Yan'an, doves and olive branches, represents armed struggle, the
60th anniversary of the victory, unity among the people, the
leadership of the Communist Party of China, and the joint efforts
of the army and people to win the war.
(Xinhua News Agency September 4, 2005)
