Raising funds to adopt orphans and traveling to northern Thailand to express condolences to the orphans, the passionate retired officer Huang Shaotian was awarded the Honorary Model

Retired military officer Huang Shaotian (right) took the lead in raising funds to adopt orphans of veterans, and even went to northern Thailand to express condolences to the orphans. His passionate and down-to-earth good deeds made him stand out from many recommenders and was awarded the title of Model Veteran by Yan Defa (left), chairman of the Retired Auxiliary Association. (Picture: Provided by the Retirement Association)

[Reporter Luo Tianbin/Reporting from Taipei] The National Army Retired Officers and Soldiers Counseling Committee recently held a celebration meeting for its 72nd anniversary and the 48th Veterans Day. Chairman Yan Defa personally commended 20 model veterans who have made silent contributions in the corner of society. Among them, Huang Shaotian, who was recommended by the Taoyuan City Veterans Service Office, has not been idle at all after he retired. He not only took the lead in raising funds to adopt orphans of veterans, but even went to northern Thailand to express condolences to orphans. His warm-blooded and down-to-earth good deeds made him stand out from many recommended candidates.

In the past, he served as platoon, company, battalion commander, and garrison commander in the military. He also served as a staff officer of the Ministry of National Defense and an instructor at the National Defense University. After taking off his military uniform, he brought the habit of "taking care of brothers" in the army into the community, and became the most reliable promoter of public welfare in the local area.

The most admirable thing about Huang Shaotian is his unbreakable concern for the descendants of his colleagues and overseas veterans. He often told his friends that taking care of his comrades should not only focus on the present, but also help them settle down the next generation. For this reason, every Chinese New Year and holiday, he would personally visit the families of his deceased colleagues and use his own money to provide scholarships to the children. In February 2014, he directly raised a voice from a high place and raised 100,000 yuan in a short period of time to donate to the "Adopt-a-Orphan Project" of the Taoyuan City Honorary Service Office. This sense of loyalty even crosses national borders. In May of the Republic of China, he organized a group to fly to Mesi Le, Thailand, to personally visit the lone soldiers of the Republic of China and their descendants. He sent a condolence payment of 114,000 Thai dollars in one go. He also visited the local Chinese school and the Martyrs' Shrine, and used practical actions to tell this group of overseas veterans that "we have never forgotten you."

Huang Shaotian (second from left), who serves as the chairman of the Army Academy Alumni Association, is what everyone calls a "super warm guy." From the 113th to the 115th year of the Republic of China, he called on the alumni association to hold a warm winter fire for three consecutive years. A total of 750 disadvantaged veterans' family members and 300 community elders were invited to have a reunion dinner together. The lively and warm scene earned him a certificate of appreciation from the Taoyuan City Government. Not only that, when he held the 100th anniversary event of the founding of the Huangpu Army in June of the Republic of China, he specially found 11 "Rongguang Elders" who were centenarians and asked Mayor Zhang Shanzheng to present awards in person. Many seniors were so moved that their eyes became red on the spot, saying that this life was worth it. (Picture: taken from Taoyuan Service Office FB)

In Taoyuan, Huang Shaotian, who serves as the chairman of the Army Academy Alumni Association, is what everyone calls a "super warm man." From the 113th to the 115th year of the Republic of China, he called on the alumni association to hold a warm winter fire for three consecutive years. A total of 750 disadvantaged veterans' family members and 300 community elders were invited to have a reunion dinner together. The lively and warm scene earned him a certificate of appreciation from the Taoyuan City Government. Not only that, when he held the 100th anniversary event of the founding of the Huangpu Army in June of the Republic of China, he specially found 11 "Rongguang Elders" who were centenarians and asked Mayor Zhang Shanzheng to present awards in person. Many seniors were so moved that their eyes became red on the spot, saying that this life was worth it.

Anyone who is familiar with Huang Shaotian knows that he is not only passionate about what he does, but also knows how to find resources to amplify his love. As a municipal consultant to the Taoyuan City Government and the founder of the Taoyuan International Philanthropy Association, he is always able to bring together companies, charity groups and alumni volunteers to deliver supplies wherever they are needed. Even for the "Digital Transformation of Veterans Care" promoted by Yan Defa, chairman of the Retirement and Auxiliary Association, at the ceremony, Huang Shaotian was already at the forefront. At every social gathering, he would lead retired brothers to promote the "Safe Elderly Care System" and teach everyone step by step how to use technology to care for each other.

From a commander who led troops to fight in the past to a charity volunteer who travels around now, Huang Shaotian has used the hard work of "retiring without rest" to live up to the most handsome look of a veteran. Winning the 48th Honorable Mention this time is not the end for him, but the motivation to continue sprinting. As Chairman Yan Defa said at the meeting, senior veterans are an important cornerstone of Taiwan's prosperity, and figures with warmth and action like Huang Shaotian not only preserve the dignity of old comrades, but also allow this warm current to continue to spread in every corner of society.