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Heroes honored on 59th National Day in China

The country's top leaders observed its 59th National Day by paying respects in Beijing yesterday to those who had sacrificed themselves to the founding of New China.

Led by President Hu Jintao, the leaders presented flowers before the Monument to the People's Heroes at Tian'anmen Square, with 18 soldiers lifting the flower baskets to the base of the monument.

"The wreath-laying ceremony is a great way to honor the Chinese people's indomitable spirit of struggle and self-sacrifice in the face of great challenges and difficulties," said Gao Xinmin, a professor with the Party School of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

"Without such spirit, Chinese people wouldn't be able to make such remarkable progress and achievement," Gao said.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of China's reform and opening up, as well as a series of significant events that include the hosting of a successful Beijing Olympics, the Shenzhou VII space mission and several natural disasters that have made this year's National Day particularly moving and inspiring, she added.

A record high of 190,000 people from different walks of life across the country attended yesterday's national flag-raising ceremony at Tian'anmen.

Read entire article at China Daily