A decoration-awarding ceremony to confer the military rank of marshal of the People's Republic of China and the medals by chairman of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on those PLA officers who have rendered meritorious service to the country during the Period of the Chinese People's Revolutionary War was held in Beijing's Huairentang at 17:00 on 27th September 1955. At the ceremony, Peng Zhen, secretary general and vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, read out the decoration-awarding order issued by the chairman of the PRC on conferring the rank of marshal onto PLA officers who have rendered meritorious service during the Period of the Chinese People's Revolutionary War. Chairman Mao personally conferred the order certificates of the military rank of marshal, first class August Ist Medals, first class Medal of Independence and Freedom, first class Medal of Liberation to PLA officers who have rendered meritorious service to the country during the Chinese Workers and Peasants Red Army Period, the Anti-Japanese War Period, the Period of Liberation War, and those who directly led the uprisings of the former Kuomintang troops during the Liberation War, those who have rendered meritorious service in the Liberation War and peaceful liberation of Tibet region. More than 1300 people attended the ceremony.