Chenault' s grand-daughter, Nell Calloway, who also attended the festival, said, "My family and I are quite touched that, despite that several decades have passed, the Chinese people have never forgotten my grandfather and the Flying Tigers and their efforts and contribution to the victory of the War of the Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression."

The statue of Claire Lee Chennault, commander of American Volunteer Group (AVG) is unveiled during the 4th China Zhijiang International Peace Culture Festival pose for photo in front of a duplicate of a fighter plane they once used during World War II, in Zhijiang County, central China's Hunan Province, Sept. 7, 2010. More than 300 guests from all over the world were invited to the festival, one of the celebration activity for the 65th anniversary of the Japanese surrendering to China and the end of the worldwide Anti-Fascism War. Zhijiang County was the place where Japanese invaders surrendered to China in August, 1945. [Ming Xing/Xinhua]

"Today we unveil a statue as a memorial to my grandfather , but also to tell the current generation to value the hard-earned peace and remember the history of the war," said Calloway.

"To my memory, my grandpa is a kind and loving man, and he always taught us to be ready to help others and seek justice. He did not just pay lip service to these noble ideas, but put words into action," said Calloway.

An estimated 2,264 U.S. "Flying Tigers" members and more than 900 Chinese airmen who fought along with them died during the war.

From December 1941 to September 1945, the Flying Tigers shot down 2,600 Japanese military planes, destroyed 44 warships and killed 66,700 Japanese soldiers.

The festival has been held for the fourth time since its establishment in 2002 in Zhijiang.