Elderly emblem maker finishes "dream visit"

Wu Jiahu finally got the chance to see China's most famous national emblem this year after dreaming of visiting it for 62 years. The 90-year-old retired fitter and polisher had participated in the making of the country's first metal national emblem in late 1950. The emblem was later shipped to Beijing and affixed to the facade of Tian'anmen Gate in the heart of the Chinese capital. Wu never managed to make it to Beijing to see the emblem until Thursday, when he made his very first visit to Tian'anmen Square. For years, he insisted on watching an evening news program on China Central Television every day, simply because the emblem was visible onscreen for a few seconds at the beginning of the program. Before coming to Beijing, Wu said he was too excited to sleep. He elected to wear a formal black coat reserved only for formal occasions during his visit. After arriving at Tian'anmen with his children Thursday afternoon, Wu got out of his wheelchair, walked closer to the gate and then stood for several moments, gazing at the emblem and reflecting on his memories of polishing it with his co-workers. The task of polishing the emblem fell to Wu and his colleagues in August 1950. Wu worked at a machine tool plant in northeast China's city of Shenyang at that time, an area known for heavy industry. Wu had been working at the plant for less than a year, but was nonetheless put in charge of the polishing procedures. Wu said he had always felt lucky to be part of the team responsible for making the historically significant emblem. "I often think of it," he said. During his stay, Wu also attended a flag-raising ceremony at Tian'anmen Square and visited the Memorial Hall of former Chairman Mao Zedong.