Madame Chiang Kai-shek peacefully passed away in her sleep at her New York apartment in the evening of October 23, 2003. Madame Soong was born in Shanghai on March 23, 1898 (or the 12^th of the second month on the lunar calendar). Her father Song Yao-ju, a devout Christian, was a native of Wenchang, Hasinan, and later moved to Shanghai. He completed his education at Vanderbilt University in the United States while working part-time, and was among those who first assiste3d Dr. Sun Yat-sen in his revolutionary cause. Madame Chiang's mother Ni Kwei-chen was from Yuyao, Chekiang, and was a descendent of the famous Ming dynasty scholar, Hsu Guanmg-chi. Madame started attending a missionary school for girls in Shanghai at the age of six. At age nine, she left Shanghai to join her two elder sisters, Ai-ling and Ching-ling in the United States, where she was tutored at the Wesleyan College for women in Georgia, and then entered Wellesley College in Massachusetts. She was an active and keen student. Upon graduation at age nineteen, she received t he Durant Scholar award and the Phi-Beta Kappa for her remarkable academic performance. In July 1917, she returned to China and immersed herself in the study of Chinese literary work. She also devoted herself to church activities and social service.

On December 1, 1927, she married the late President Chiang Kai-shek in shanghai. Since that time, Madame Chiang has remained dedicated to the grand enterprise of resurrecting China. . Standing by her husband, Madame Chiang's wisdom and unparalleled determination were both an impetus and a catalyst in his policy-make process. Her life and work have become inseparable from the history and destiny of the Republic of China.

Shortly after their marriage, the President, then Commander-in-Chief of the Nationalist Revolutionary Army, launched the second phase of Northern Expedition. Within six months he established peace in the north, ushering in a new unified China. In 1930, Madame Chiang founded the School for Children of Chinese Revolutionary Martyrs in Nanking for the orphans and dependents of soldiers who had sacrificed their lives in action. In March of 1932, the President was appointed Chairman of the National Military Council. Madame Chian traveled extensively as an aide to the President. Between the years of 19343 and 1936, she traveled to the mountains of Kiangsi Province where the Communists had suffered heavy losses. Exposed to the impoverished and primitive conditions in rural China, Madame Chiang set out to garner the support of the National League of Chinese Christian Association and other church-funded institutions to open up a total of eleven experimental zones where various projects to establish cooperative factories, upgrade the welfare of the peasants, and improve public hygiene and medical services were put into practice. In February 12934, the President launched the New Life Movement, a program of moral reform based on traditional Chinese virtues. Madame Chiang accompanied the President to the hinterland in the Northwest, delivering speeches everywhere calling for the nation to uproot the customs of foot binding, drug abuse and poor hygiene.

On December 12, 1936, General Chang Hsueh-liang and Yang Hu-cheng jointly kidnapped the President in Sian, an event known historically as the Sian Incident. Madame Chiang, with no consideration for her own life and safety, went to Sian in person to negotiate with Chiang and Yang and won their trust and respect. Madame Chiang's presence in Sian was critical in the peaceful resolution of a grave national problem.

While the government worked hard to preserve peace at home, the Japanese invaded China with over more arrogance. At that time, one of the most urgent tasks was the establishment of a formidable air force. Madame Chian accepted an appointment as Secretary General of the National Aeronautical Affairs Commission in 1936. She recruited many foreign professionals to help China with the effort. The American Volunteer Group was one such example, and the Flying Tigers, led by General Claire Lee Chennault, made commendable contributions to China's struggle against the bloody invasion by Japan.

On July 7m 1937, the Japanese launched the Marco Polo Bridge Incident and started their invasion of China. The nation was mobilized under the leadership of the President for a full-scale war of self-defense against Japan. Madame Chiang summoned the women of China to contribute their utmost to be of service to the troops. She often visited the front lines and set up relief programs for the injured, bringing solutions to problems faced by field officers. .

To enhance public morale, Madame Chiang published an article "We Shall Rise Again" in June 1940, urging the nation to never give up. In February 1943, Madame Chiang embarked upon a visit to the United States at the invitation of President Roosevelt, which turned out to be an epoch-making event in the history of Sino-American diplomacy. The highlight of he journey was the presentation of a speech at a joint session of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Madame Chiang had the honor of being the first woman to address that August body. Madame Chiang received a standing ovation at the end of her talk, and her speech was broadcast over every radio network, and was published on he front pages of many important newspapers. She then traveled for more than six months through the United States making publish speeches. Journalists reported her success in America, saying that she was "taking the country by charm."

In November same year, Madame Chiang accompanies the President to the Carro Conference. They arrived at the historical resolutions that all the territories Japan had taken away from China, such as Manchuria, Taiwan and the Pascadores, shall "be restored to the Republic of China." Madame Chiang so impressed the American public that for many years, her name was chosen by such important journals as Time Magazine to appear on the list of the ten most admired women in the world.

In 1948 Madame Chiang visited United States again to urge the U.S. to provide aid to fight the Communists. In December 1949, the Nationalist government lost the mainland and retreated to Taiwan. The Korean War broke out in June in 1950 and the U.S. Seventh Fleet began to assist the defense of Taiwan. Madame Chiang had returned to Taipei earlier that year, and she immediately set out to organize the Chinese Women's Anti-Aggression League, once again uniting women to provide support services to the military. In 1964, the organization was renamed the National Women's League of the Republic of China.

On April 5, 1975, President suffered from a heart attack and passed away. For Madame Chiang, it was an unbearable loss. Mentally and physically exhausted after his funeral, he left in September for the United States for medical treatment. She remained in New York, but made a few trips to Taiwan to attend the first anniversary of President Chiang's passing, the memorial service of his 100 birthday, the memorial service of President Chiang Ching-kuo, and to visit her ailing niece, Miss Kung Ling Wei.

Madame Chiang was a devout Christian who had converted President Chiang to Christianity. Madame Chiang was also fond of the art of China and studied Chinese painting. In 1995, Madame Chiang was invited by the U.S. Congress to make a speech for the second time.

Madame Chiang was insightful and sensitive. While she withdrew from direct involvement from governmental affairs as a result of advancing years, she never ceased to express her concern fro the welfare of society and the realization of a better world, nor did she refrain from reiterating her anti-Communist stance and her determination to uphold the Republic of China. Her brilliant achievements will be remembered by generations to come.