This year marks the 60th year since the state leaders of the older generation, including Chairman Mao Zedong (1893–1976), wrote inscriptions in memory of Lei Feng (1940–1962), a People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldier and a household name in China. Recently, President Xi Jinping gave instructions on further efforts to carry out activities of learning from Lei Feng. He said: "In the past 60 years, activities of learning from Lei Feng have been continuously and extensively carried out throughout the country. Lei Feng has become a household name with his deeds deeply rooted in the people's hearts, and his spirit has nourished generations of Chinese people. Facts have borne out that the Lei Feng Spirit never wanes no matter how times have changed."

In China, Lei is a well-known hero of the people. He was only 22 years old when he left the world, yet he has erected a moral monument with his exemplary deeds. The whole nation admires him and learns from him. 

March 5 has been designated as "Lei Feng Day," after Chairman Mao called on the whole nation to learn from him in 1963, one year after the soldier died in an accident at the age of 22. On this particular day, as a veteran who has been writing about him all my life, excitement wells up in me as I recall his life stories.

On December 18, 1940, Lei was born into a poor peasant family in Jianjiatang Village, Anqing Township, Wangcheng County, Hunan Province. At that time, the invading Japanese imperialist forces plundered large areas of Chinese territory. The cruel and wicked were in power on both sides of the Xiangjiang River in Hunan. The people lived in deep waters, and Lei's grandfather, father, elder brother and two-year-old brother all fell victim to that dark time. Later, his mother was forced to hang herself, leaving seven-year-old Lei helpless and orphaned.

On Feb. 19, 1962, at the Bayi Theater in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Shenyang Military Command, Lei speaks as a special representative at the first Communist Youth League Congress of the military command.