68岁老人坚持每天升国旗 18年6500天风雨无阻

For the past 18 years, a 68-year-old man from Fenggang County, southwestern China's Guizhou province has demonstrated his love for China in a special way.

18年来，中国西南部贵州省凤冈县一名68岁的男子以一种特殊的方式表达了对祖国的热爱。

He has raised a national flag every day for the last 6,500 days.

在过去的6500天，他每天都升国旗。

Each day at 7:30 a.m., the man, named Tian Maokun, plays the national anthem on his mobile phone and raises the national flag in his yard.

每天上午7:30，这位名叫田茂坤的男人就会用他的手机播放国歌，并且在院子里升国旗。

This has been Tian's daily routine for 18 years.

这已经成为田茂坤18年来的日常惯例了。

Tian lost his job in the wake of organizational reforms, but he has received a pension from the local government ever since.

供销社体制改革之后，田茂坤失去了他的工作，但是自那时起他就收到了地方政府的养老金。

His monthly income reached 1,930 yuan (289 dollars) in 2012, and the pension keeps rising every year.

2012年他的月收入达到1930元（折合289美元），养老金每年都在不断上涨。

Thankful for the government's support, Tian decided to raise the national flag to express his gratitude toward the country.

为了感谢政府的帮助，田茂坤决定升国旗来表达对国家的感激之情。

Tian started his routine in 1998, and has kept at it since that time. Whenever Tian is away from home, his wife raises the flag for him.

田茂坤于1998年开始了他的日常惯例，自那时起就一直坚持。当田茂坤不在家时，他的妻子就替他升旗。

Some of Tian's fellow villagers doubted at first that he would carry on, but Tian's dedication has changed all their minds.

田茂坤的一些同乡起初怀疑他是否能够坚持下去，但最终田茂坤的坚持改变了他们的想法。

Some noted that the informal flag-raising ceremony is a good way to show respect for the improved quality of life in China's rural areas.

一些人指出，这一并不正式的升旗仪式，是对改善中国农村地区生活质量表达尊重的一个好办法。