Luo Linquan (center), Chinese consul general in San Francisco, on behalf of the Chinese government awards medals to Guan Luozhang (second from left), the representative of the Sam Yup Benevolent Association; Ji An (in wheelchair) and Lai Shujiong (third from right), both World War II veterans, on Thursday at the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco, for their contribution to China's victory against Japanese aggression. Zha Liyou (first from left), deputy consul general of China in San Francisco, also attended the medal presentation ceremony. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY
The Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco awarded medals to two veterans and a representative of a historic overseas Chinese group for their contribution to China's victory against Japanese aggression during World War II. [Special coverage]
Ji An and Lai Shujiong, both 95, received the commemorative medals on Thursday at the consulate general. They fought in the war more than 70 years ago and now live in the city.
Another medal was awarded to Guan Luozhang, 76, the representative of the Sam Yup Benevolent Association, a city-based overseas Chinese group with 165 years of history, for the group's contribution to the Chinese war efforts.
The medals were awarded at the consulate general because the recipients couldn't make it to Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping presented the same medals to 30 veterans for their contribution to the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, on Sept 2, one day before the Victory Parade marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.
"The nationwide war of resistance against Japanese aggression over 70 years ago awakened the Chinese nation and united the Chinese people. The overseas Chinese made unprecedented donations to support the nation's war efforts," said Luo Linquan, Chinese consul general in San Francisco.
"China and the US joined forces and defeated the Japanese Army in China and contributed to the victory of the World's Anti-Fascist War," he said.
Ji, a former member of the Chinese Expeditionary Forces in East India during the war, also recalled the great assistance by the Flying Tigers, led by Claire Lee Chennault, to the Chinese people's war efforts.
"Now looking back on those days, it is really a hard-won victory," he said.
Lai said wars have always led to no good results.
"Japan should recognize history and learn from history," he said.
"We cherish the memory of history so that we treasure the peace we have now; we remember history so that we learn from the past and unite all the Chinese people to contribute to our nation," said Luo.
