On October 1, 1951, commander-in-chief Zhu De reviewed the troops formed by 13,348 people in Tiananmen Square accompanied by Nie Rongzhen.

The biggest highlight of this parade was the militia division. The militia was an important part of people's armed forces under the leadership of the CPC. It played an important role in both the revolutionary war and in the construction of socialism. It was the main idea in Mao Zedong’s military philosophy to build a people's army and to fight a people's war.

During the war years, the PLA defeated strong enemies both at home and abroad and seized the political power with the aid of the people. After the foundation of the New China, the militia actively participated in campaigns of the land reform, repressing counter revolutionaries, suppressing bandits as well as engaging in the economic and cultural construction. They also supported the war to resist the US aggression and aid Korea, making immortal contributions to protect and establish the New China.

In the National Day military parade of 1951, the militia representatives, all of whom were the combat heroes and advanced models from North China's old liberated areas, formed a division, showing the high spirits of China's militia. The militia division attending the parade for the first time is a demonstration of "a nation at arms." The militia will always play an important role in China's armed forces regardless of military modernization.

(China.org.cn, CCTV August 13, 2009)