Veterans are awarded in Nanyang. [Photo by Nanyang Daily]

The first "Most Beautiful Retired Soldier" award ceremony was held at the Nanyang Municipal Educational Center on July 22.

The purpose of the activity was to show the demeanor of retired soldiers and stimulate their enthusiasm in the "achievements in the new era" and to encourage all walks of life to respect them.

Zhang Wenshen, secretary of the CPC Nanyang Municipal Committee, and Huo Haosheng, mayor of Nanyang, attended the ceremony.

The activity was hosted by the Publicity Department of the Nanyang Municipal Committee, and Nanyang Newspaper Media Group.

More than 200 candidates were recommended for the event. Twenty retired soldiers, including Xie Jianye, were named as the"Most Beautiful Retired Soldiers" in Nanyang after strict checks, selection, online voting and expert evaluation. Thirty other retired soldiers, including Pang Hong'en, were named "Excellent Retired Soldiers".