'Soldier quality' in peacetime

Coincidence has brought the annual War Invalids and Martyrs Day to the day before the seventh lunar month – the month of drizzling rains, when the living think of the deceased with gratitude. This connects two different time periods.

Perhaps that is why the occasion of paying tribute to heroic martyrs and wounded soldiers, their families miss them even more. On the mass media, there are constantly appearing melodies and poignant poems, full of stories about those who have fallen or left behind a part of their body, carrying injuries for the nation's victory day. "Three times seeing my children off, two times crying silently/ The brothers did not return, I was alone in silence"... An old soldier once confided: "On this occasion, thinking about my fallen comrades, I suddenly feel my existence is absurd".

A country with 3,000 martyr cemeteries, a country "from the cradle, blocking storms in the morning and blocking the sun and fire in the afternoon", having to overcome many wars of survival, the gratitude and remembrance continue forever.

The largest city in the country - the destination of the arduous resistance war against the US - is called "City of Love" partly thanks to this gratitude. Therefore, many martyrs' cemeteries are visited all year round, not only on July 27. And many people have noticed that going to the cemetery does not feel gloomy or cold; some cemeteries have been built into parks, where young people come to chat, play, even organize picnics, take wedding photos...

The smiles of young people sparkle with the bright colors of flowers beside the rows of graves. What makes them want to come to the cemetery to mark their joy? Beautiful scenery? There are many beautiful scenes everywhere. Praying for the blessings of martyrs' souls? Perhaps it is a part of it, but for those who are not yet full and have not yet thought about anything, is this motivation really that great? Let's explain it in another way, by chance, today's young people find a resonance with the young people who have passed away. The resonance of youth, of hot blood, of the instinct to burn themselves out for an ideal.

We often look forward to War Invalids and Martyrs Day with gratitude and nostalgia, but perhaps there is another value of this holiday, which is the occasion to return, to appreciate and receive the vitality of our fathers and brothers.

If the Vietnamese people have been compared many times to soldiers facing difficult challenges, the invisible but strong bond connecting generations must be “soldier spirit”. That is courage, the spirit of overcoming difficulties to the point of iron, daring to be creative, and facing challenges.

That’s why the TV series “How the Steel Was Tempered” adapted from the novel of the same name in 1999 attracted such strong attention. Pavel Korchagin – an idol of ideals and extraordinary willpower in distant wartime – became a role model for young people in many countries in the new period.

The writer once knew a businesswoman who was unfortunately facing bankruptcy. Too tired of the pressure of paying off debts and providing for thousands of workers, she wanted to give up. Her father, a war invalid who was blind in both eyes, did not advise her much, only asked her to cover her eyes with a black bandage and find a way to climb to the 10th floor of a building. Experiencing the life of a blind person for a few minutes made her wake up, calmly and step by step revived the business.

In the family of the blind war invalid as well as many other families, perhaps the story between the previous generation and the next generation is not only about loss and remembrance, but also about the courage to overcome all challenges. In these days, perhaps it is even more necessary to awaken and strive towards that “soldier quality”.