An 85-year-old veteran from Suqian, eastern China’s Jiangsu province, has raised the national flag every day for the last 20 years in a bid to express his gratitude toward the country.

Starting his service in the army in 1950, veteran Wang Changyou fought in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea in November of the same year.

After battle, Wang served in Beijing and Tianjin until 1956. According to Wang, he and his wife have been living on state subsidies after his retirement. Therefore, he decided to raise the national flag everyday to express his gratitude toward the country and the Communist Party of China.

His family would not have existed if it was not for the Party and the country, Wang said. Today, the veteran still enjoys subsidies and is also very healthy.

Wang said nearly 30 flags have been worn out over the past 2 decades, and he has saved every one of them as souvenirs for his children.

Though he and his family will move soon, Wang said he will continue the practice of flag raising until his last breath.