During the parade on Sept 3, troops — selected members of the PLA and the People's Armed Police Force, as well as China's militia and reserve service — will line up in formations along Chang'an Avenue in Beijing, and they will be reviewed by President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

A total of 45 marching soldier units, land weaponry groups and aircraft squadrons are set to take part in the parade.

Yao's assignment is to work with tens of officers and soldiers picked from across the armed forces to carry honorary flags representing time-honored combat units that fought in the war against Japanese invaders.

"The flag I will carry in the parade was conferred to an infantry company — the predecessor of my present company — in September 1939 for its soldiers' heroic performance in a fierce battle that eliminated many Japanese aggressors. Actually, the company was established in May 1928 and had distinguished itself in battles even before the 1939 engagement," the veteran marine emphasized.

"Carrying this flag through Tian'anmen Square means a lot to my company and me. It is a symbol of recognition and acknowledgment of my unit's glorious history and has become a great inspiration to my fellow officers and soldiers. It will be recorded in the company's history book and will definitely generate endless energy to propel us into combat training with full effort," he said.