The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the armed police
are providing Long March veterans with free medical check-up in
2006, as part of efforts to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the
success of the epic Long March.
PLA medical workers have been giving Long Marchers physical
check-ups and drawing up personal health care plans according to
each veteran's physical condition.
Local sanatoriums responsible for caring for Red Army veterans
vowed to provide more services for retired Red Army cadres whose
children do not live with them, and also for invalid Red Army
veterans or their widows.
Since mid September, PLA and armed police units have sent
officers to visit Red Army veterans, convey greetings, give them or
their widows more than 13 million yuan, and help them solve
difficulties they encounter in everyday life.
This year, China celebrates the 70th anniversary of the success
of the Long March -- the epic 12,500-kilometer strategic military
maneuver by Communist Party armies from southern to northern China
to escape annihilation by Chiang Kaishek's Kuomintang army.
(Xinhua News Agency October 25, 2006)