Jiangsu veterans who have defended the motherland of China during the war time was given a "Special Award" along with ten role models at the "Touching Jiangsu 2014" according to the annual selection results as announced by Modern Express on April 3.

Jointly held by CCTV and the Modern Express annually, the "Touching Jiangsu" awards usually give ten awards to individuals or groups that made special contributions to the society with their admirable virtues and spirits.

2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the victories in both the World War II and the anti-Japanese war. The group of veterans was nominated to pay tribute to the living veterans as well as to comfort the brave souls who lost their lives for defending the country.

Zhang Xiuqi, 94, a veteran from Nanjing, Jiangsu province. [Photo/Moder Express]

"We are not heroes, we just did what we should at that time," said Zhang, who participated in the Battle of Changsha in September 1939. As a representative of the veterans group, he talked about the concerns of veterans that they are not afraid of death, but fear to be forgotten. "We are afraid of people forgetting the war history!" said the veteran.