Warm 'Gratitude Meal' for policy families

The highlight of this year's gratitude activity is that Nghia Dan District Youth Union has directed the Youth Union units to organize "Gratitude Meals", bringing a warm and happy atmosphere when gathering around the family dinner table. Through the activity, the Youth Union members listened to the revolutionary veterans and former Youth Volunteers tell stories about the two long resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism during the days of bombs and bullets, about the difficulties and hardships that our people and army had to go through to have a peaceful life like today.

Youth union members actively participate, each with a task. Photo: Minh Thai

In Nghia Khanh commune, in the joyful atmosphere, completely different from usual days, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Sau, over 70 years old this year, a former Youth Volunteer in Phuc Loc hamlet, could not help but be moved. It had been a long time since her house had been filled with laughter and chatter, because her husband passed away early and her children worked far away. From early morning, the union members and young people went to the market and prepared meals. Without anyone telling them, they all started their work, some washing vegetables, some cooking, some cleaning the house...

After preparing the meal, you guysyouth volunteersSitting down to eat with family, chatting and sharing the difficulties in life. During the meal, former Youth Volunteer Nguyen Thi Sau told her fellow Youth Union members about the days of bombs and bullets, about the difficulties and hardships that our people and army had to go through to have the peaceful life we ​​have today.

Youth union members of Nghia Khanh commune clean the house to help Mrs. Nguyen Thi Sau's family. Photo: Minh Thai

Mrs. Sau did not forget to remind the Youth Union members to follow the example of the previous generation, even in peacetime, the Youth Union members must always be the vanguard force, must make every effort to complete the assigned tasks well. "Every year on holidays, New Year, and Youth Volunteer Day, I am visited and encouraged by the commune's organizations. This year, the Youth Union came to my house to cook, clean, sweep the house, and sit together around a crowded meal, I feel very happy, very meaningful" - Mrs. Nguyen Thi Sau, a former Youth Volunteer member, emotionally shared.

The practical actions of the union members and young people are very meaningful, contributing to lighting up the warmth, leaving good feelings in the heart of former Youth Volunteer Nguyen Thi Sau. Only by sitting directly at that special meal, listening to her tell about the heroic years of the girls who opened the Truong Son road, could one feel the joyful, close, warm, and loving atmosphere.

The reunion dinner was a celebration of youth and the tradition of heroic years was recalled through songs. Photo: Minh Thai

Ms. Nguyen Thi Trang - Secretary of the Youth Union of Nghia Khanh commune said: "In July, the Youth Union of the commune focuses on 2 holidays of Veteran Youth Volunteers and War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27), organizing practical activities such as giving gifts, helping policy families to repair and clean their houses and cook gratitude meals, to educate the younger generation about traditions,the principle of drinking water, remember its sourceof the nation".

Not only in Nghia Khanh Commune Youth Union, but currently, Youth Union bases in the whole Nghia Dan district have organized gratitude meals. Although the material value is not great, it has great educational significance.

Youth Union branches across the district presented gifts of gratitude to former Youth Volunteers. Photo: Minh Thai

Mr. Truong Hung Dung - Deputy Secretary of Nghia Dan District Youth Union said: “July is the month of gratitude, the District Youth Union has directed the Youth Union bases to carry out many practical activities such as organizing visits, giving gifts, and cooking gratitude meals at policy families with special circumstances. This may be a small action, but each action and gesture of union members and youths contains great gratitude to the previous generation. You are forever a beautiful image for today's youth to follow and learn from. From this activity, each cadre, union member and youth understands more about the revolutionary tradition and the noble sacrifice of previous generations. From there, we clearly see our responsibility in the cause of building and protecting the country”.

Nghia Thinh commune delegation organized whitewashing and cleaning of houses for former Youth Volunteers' families in the commune. Photo: Minh Thai

"Gratitude Meal" is one of the practical activities of Nghia Dan youth to express gratitude and responsibility, a practical and concrete action of the movement "Repaying gratitude", "Drinking water, remembering its source"; at the same time, it is the respect and gratitude of today's generation of union members and youth for the contributions of previous generations. This is also one of the important activities in the 2021 Summer Youth Volunteer Campaign that Nghia Dan District Youth Union is implementing./.