War veteran celebrates 100th birthday

Writer: Zhang Yu  | Editor: Holly Wang  | From: Shenzhen Daily | Updated: 2019-09-24

Ronny Verdoodt (R), founder of A Heart for China, poses for a picture with He Wei, a centenarian veteran, at Renda Benevolence Nursing Home in Bao’an District on Saturday. Zhang Yu

He Wei, a local veteran who fought in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression from 1931 to 1945, turned 100 Saturday.

A birthday party was held at Renda Benevolence Nursing Home in Bao’an District, where He has been receiving elderly care for the past four years. A repertoire of choral and dance performances was staged at the gathering to celebrate the centenarian’s longevity.

He was born in Dongguan in 1920. When the Lugou Bridge Incident broke out in 1937, He, then only 17 years old, followed other high school students to parade on the streets while holding banners with patriotic slogans.

He joined an anti-Japanese guerrilla force named Dongguan Anti-Japanese Model Zhuangding Squadron the next year. He and other comrades-in-arms kept watch day and night to guard against the enemy. They also took part in military training, such as running, shooting and throwing grenades.

In 1939, He was dispatched to a village in Dongguan for publicity work and was put in charge of organizing speeches in Dongguan and Bao’an to mobilize more people to protect the country. In the same year, He joined the Communist Party of China.

After China’s hard-won victory against the invading Japanese, He worked in the governmental departments of Guangdong Province and Chongqing Municipality until she retired.

A Heart for China, an international charity group founded by Belgian Ronny Verdoodt in 2015, was invited to attend He’s birthday party. When seeing Verdoodt, the hale and hearty centenarian gave him the thumbs-up and said, “I remember you.”

So far, Verdoodt has led volunteers to Renda around 20 times to accompany, chat, play games and organize special entertaining performances for the elderly. “The event is very important for the lady as she turns 100. She is a war hero. It also reminds us to have a caring heart for the elderly,” said Verdoodt.

Verdoodt and his charity group took a picture with He in 2015 when she presented her autobiography to the group as a gift. Two years later, Verdoodt framed the picture and sent it to He.

“The picture he gave to my mother was placed at the bedside and all of our relatives can see it when they enter her bedroom,” He’s son told the Shenzhen Daily.

Raquel Martin Diaz, a newcomer to the charity group, is ready to engage in volunteer work in the city. Diaz arrived in Shenzhen about 10 days ago. “I think the birthday party for the veteran is a great activity. I was a volunteer in Spain and I’m glad to be a volunteer in Shenzhen.”