Echoes of the Fire and Flower Period

(Baonghean) -The story of the “shoulders of hundreds of pounds, legs of thousands of miles” of the Youth Volunteer Force (TNXP) of that time is like a never-ending source. Everything is still like yesterday, when they - 15, 16 year old boys and girls followed the call to join the TNXP force for a long-term concentration to serve the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. The fiery time of the former TNXP resistance war against the French - Mai At (currently the Chairman of the Provincial Association of Former TNXP), still has heroic melodies...

- Sir, can we consider the years of Youth Volunteer Force as the most beautiful memory of youth?

- At the age of 18, following the call to join the Youth Volunteer Force to serve the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, I eagerly set off with the enthusiasm of youth. The unit was stationed at Co Noi intersection, the traffic artery connecting Phu Tho - Yen Bai - Son La, and at the same time the focus of fierce attacks by the French colonialists, bombs and bullets plowed day and night. With the determination of "All for victory", our task was to cut down trees to camouflage the road during the day, and clear trees at night for cars to pass. "The heart can stop beating, blood can fall but the road cannot be blocked". There were countless comrades who fell because of malaria, because of bombs and bullets, because of being swept away by water. All of them sacrificed their blood and bones for the nation to make victory.

The years of wading through streams and hills, day after day eating rice with wild vegetables, there were times when the battlefield was so fierce that there was no time to supply food, the whole company had to eat roasted corn and drink stream water to survive. Despite the pouring rain and cold wind, our shoulders still weighed hundreds of pounds, our feet still walked thousands of miles across deep rivers and high mountains to receive goods instead of transport vehicles, protecting the vital route serving the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. Those years were arduous but the camaraderie was so warm. Those were the most beautiful years of our generation's youth.

- As Chairman of the Provincial Association of Former Youth Volunteers, what have you done to help your comrades reduce the burden of life?

- In 1998, when the Central Youth Union had a policy to establish a Liaison Committee for Former Youth Volunteers, I and a few comrades searched for addresses, tried to contact and gather together. At first, it was only people from the same unit, during the same resistance war, then the target group was expanded. In 2005, the Provincial Association of Former Youth Volunteers was officially established and I was elected as the President of the Association until now. Most of the former Youth Volunteers are people who have suffered from war pressure, poor health and extremely difficult family circumstances. To reduce some of the burden of life, the Association established the "Comradely Love" Fund, mobilizing each member to contribute 300,000-500,000 VND to the fund each year, lending to other members without interest to develop the economy. At the same time, we sought support and called for sponsorship from businesses, organizations and individuals to build houses of gratitude for former Youth Volunteers in difficult circumstances. Since 2005, over 220 houses of gratitude have been built. We also regularly organize activities to visit, give gifts, visit old battlefields, find graves of comrades... The Association has played an important role in assessing records and certifying disabilities so that members can enjoy the State's subsidy regimes.

Up to now, 14,392 members have received benefits, but there are still more than 13,000 other former Youth Volunteers whose benefits have not been resolved due to documentation issues. That is also what worries me a lot.

- Sir, how is the motto of former Youth Volunteers "Young people take the lead, old people are exemplary" expressed in today's life?

- The former Youth Volunteers of the past returned to life with their good qualities intact. Many were pioneers in labor production, becoming typical examples of good economic performance, creating jobs and stable income for their comrades and children. Many were enthusiastic about local movements, leading mass organizations. Many still quietly did good deeds, deeds of gratitude to their comrades. And above all, they were exemplary grandparents, shining examples for their children and grandchildren to follow...

Thanh Phuc -Perform