Opportunity to repay

Senior Colonel Shi Lianxue, the militia women's political commissar, said the women feel privileged and happy to be part of the upcoming parade and are not put off by the arduous training involved.

"Many of the militia women are office workers. They could have spent these past few days in their comfortable homes and offices rather than undergoing tough training here. Some of the unit's members are mothers and needed to lose some weight in a short time to meet physical requirements," Shi said.

"But none of them said they have ever regretted joining the group. They trained hard and improved a lot," Shi said.

"These mothers told me that maybe 10 years later, when their children see them on television programs about the parade, they will proudly tell their boys and girls, 'Your mom took part in the parade, so this is what I've done for the country'," Zhao said.

This motivation was shared by Chen Nan, 27, a Chinese-language teacher at Beijing BISS International School.

"I've watched previous parades on TV, and I was excited and proud at those times," Chen said. "But my feeling this time, as someone participating in the parade, is totally different. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to play a role in such a magnificent occasion and contribute something to the nation."

Jia Fagang, a paratrooper who will drive a combat vehicle in next week's parade, said he took part in the military parade in July 2017 that marked the 90th anniversary of the PLA's founding, so this will be his second appearance at such event.

"The first time I participated in a parade, I regarded myself as a soldier saluting the armed forces. This time, I want to act not only as a service member but also a representative of all people in my village to extend our gratitude and best wishes to the motherland," said the young soldier from the Qiang ethnic group in Sichuan province.

He explained that his village was badly hit by a devastating earthquake in May 2008 that killed more than 80,000 people and flattened at least 60 percent of the village's buildings.

In the first days after the catastrophe, the Chinese military was the savior of residents, bringing in food and other relief necessities. Soldiers also helped villagers check the safety of their homes and assess their losses.

Jia said he did not know the people who airdropped relief materials from the PLA helicopters and has never personally met the soldiers who came to help since then, but he never forgot the help the PLA provided at the time.

Seven years later, after graduating from high school, Jia applied to join the PLA and was assigned to an airborne brigade.

"After my first parade in 2017, I took leave and went back home. Many people in the village told me they were proud of me as they knew about my participation in the parade," Jia recalled. "I saw new shopping streets and tourist facilities were built after I joined the military, and the lives of my neighbors were much better than before."

The changes in his hometown spurred the paratrooper to train harder because he was convinced that this is the best way for him to repay the country and the military.

"When I step onto Chang'an Avenue on Tuesday, I will try my utmost to show my best to the motherland."