Nghe An mother takes care of martyrs' graves for 53 years
(Baonghean) -When telling us about the long time he spent searching for the grave of his father, a martyr who died in Nghe An, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Son (a retired cadre in Thanh Mieu ward, Viet Tri city, Phu Tho province) was moved to exclaim, "How kind are our people!"
For the past 53 years, the grave of Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Son's beloved father, martyr Nguyen Ngoc Luong, has been voluntarily cared for by a family where his father died, keeping the grave in peace and beauty. The Certificate of National Recognition signed by Prime Minister Pham Van Dong on June 3, 1963, inscribed with Martyr Nguyen Ngoc Luong, a platoon leader of the Vietnam People's Army, who died while on duty on April 10, 1956 in Nghe An, which he has cherished ever since, was brought to the headquarters of Nhan Dan newspaper in Phu Tho for us to see as a testament to the gratitude of a mother from Nghe An for the martyr.
Mr. Son said that when his father went to Nghe An to work, his three brothers were still very young, the youngest brother was still in his mother's womb. Although they were still young, he and his second brother could never forget the day they held a memorial service for their father in their hometown of Hien Luong commune (Ha Hoa district, Phu Tho province). Later, due to war conditions, the brothers grew up and were scattered, and the family's economy was difficult, so it was not until 1993 that the family had the conditions to go to Nghe An to find their father's grave.
According to the information recorded in the death certificate, thinking that their father's grave had been gathered in a cemetery, his brothers split up to search almost all the martyrs' cemeteries in Nghi Loc district and neighboring areas many times but still could not find it. In early June 2009, after many days of searching quite arduously, seemingly hopeless, by chance, while resting at a roadside tea shop, his youngest brother asked and heard information about a martyr's grave in Long Chua hamlet, Nghi Khanh commune, Nghi Loc district. Mr. Son's brothers immediately went to Long Chua hamlet. Hearing people say that Mrs. Phung Thi Viem's family was taking care of the grave, after investigating and comparing information, everyone confirmed that it was their father's grave and burst into tears.
Mrs. Phung Thi Viem is nearly 83 years old this year but is still very healthy and clear-headed. She still remembers every detail of what happened 53 years ago. She said that during her time working in Long Chua hamlet, Nghi Loc district, Mr. Luong was just over 40 years old and was assigned by the organization to stay at her house. At that time, people often called Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Luong "platoon leader Uncle Luong", "fun-loving Uncle Luong!". Mr. Luong died right at Mrs. Viem's house after being murdered by reactionaries. She was the one who witnessed the death and attended the funeral.
Since then, Mrs. Viem has volunteered to take care of the martyrs' graves. She hopes and believes that the martyrs' relatives will come to find them. In recent years, due to her old age and failing eyesight, Mrs. Viem has assigned her daughter, a teacher, to take care of the graves and worship the martyrs as if they were her own family members. Next to Mr. Luong's grave, there is also a martyrs' grave that Mrs. Viem's family also takes care of.
Mr. Son said that although Mr. Viem's family and the Nghi Loc district authorities have allowed his family to bring the martyr's remains back to their hometown, because Mr. Son's mother has just passed away, according to custom, they must wait until next year.
Martyr Nguyen Ngoc Luong's mother, Le Thi Hoat, was also posthumously awarded the title of Vietnamese Heroic Mother by the State at the end of 2008.
Mr. Son said: "On this July 27, his brothers will soon be present at Long Chua hamlet (Nghi Khanh commune, Nghi Loc district, Nghe An) to burn incense for his father and once again visit and thank Mr. Viem's family for taking care of the martyr's grave for the past 53 years. Mr. Viem is our second mother."
Minh Thu - Hong Nghia
