Taipei, Aug. 8 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian cited 98 model father-son, father-daughter pairs from the military, police and firefighting communities on Tuesday, in recognition of their contributions to the country and society.
The citation at the Presidential Office coincided with the celebration of Father's Day which falls on Aug. 8.
Chen first wished all fathers around the island a happy Father's Day and said he was very happy to celebrate the special day with selected personnel from the military, police and firefighting forces.
Chen said the citation was arranged to express the government's recognition and gratitude for all military, police and firefighting personnel's contributions to the defense of national security, the maintaining of law and order, and the conducting of emergency rescue and disaster relief operations.
"Despite differences in the nature of their work, the three sectors' contributions to national security, social welfare and providing a secure, comfortable living environment is the same," Chen noted.
He went on to say that the large number of father-son and father-daughter pairs in the three sectors is admirable because it signifies success in family education. "Only a good father can inspire his children to choose the same profession," Chen said.
The accumulated seniority of all of those cited reached 3,000 years. "This is a marvelous record. You are no ordinary people. You are all great. You have made extraordinary choices and have created extraordinary lives," the president lauded.
He also encouraged all of the model military, police and firefighting workers to regard all fellow countrymen as their offspring and develop rapport with them in order to ensure social harmony and domestic stability.
Chen also revealed that his daughter and son jointly presented him with a shaver as a Father's Day gift. "I will highly treasure it because the shaver will remind me that I must 'shave my beard before shaving others' beards,' by which I mean I must reflect upon my own actions before blaming others," he said.