A ceremony was held on 6 September in Kunming for conferring the Certificate of Honorary Citizen to 15 US World War II veterans. Photo/Wang Junxing

 

The high officials of Kunming attended and addressed the ceremony, expressing warm welcome and high esteem to the US veterans who made great contributions combating the invading Japanese army in the skies of Yunnan in the southwest of China during the World War II.

 

As an important base of the Hump Air Route, Kunming is closely connected with the Flying Tigers who have established deep friendship with the people of Kunming. Seven decades ago, about 1,500 American and Chinese soldiers sacrificed their lives fighting the Japanese army on the world famous Hump Air Route.

The memorial hall dedicated to the Flying Tigers in the City Museum of Kunming

All the veterans attending the ceremony were very excited at the moment they set foot back in the city of Kunming. As their representative said in his speech, the veterans sincerely wished that the friendship with Kunming and its people lasts forever.

 

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The 15 Honorary Citizens of US veterans
Frank Mike Breyer, 91
Oliver Ray Crawford, 90
Wesley Raymond Fronk Sr, 93
David Kirkland Hayward, 93
Wing Yoke Lai, 90
Edwin K Len, 91
Joseph Li, 92
Harry Lim, 90
Melvin Dayne Mc Mullen, 90
Frank Steven Losonsky, 94
Leroy Joyce Parramore, 92
James Bok Wong, 92
J V Vinyard, 92
Fulton Yee, 91
Chen Bingjing, 97