President Tran Dai Quang: Imbued with the ethics of 'When drinking water, remember its source'

In the heart of every Vietnamese person, there is always engraved the great sacrifices and contributions of revolutionary predecessors, heroic martyrs, wounded and sick soldiers...

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27, 1947 - July 27, 2017), President Tran Dai Quang wrote an article titled: "Imbued with the morality of "When drinking water, remember its source", doing a good job of the work of war invalids, martyrs, and people with revolutionary contributions". VOV respectfully introduces the full text of the article:

"After the success of the August Revolution, in the context of internal and external enemies and the country facing countless difficulties, President Ho Chi Minh always paid attention to visiting, encouraging, reminding everyone to be grateful and wholeheartedly helping wounded soldiers and families of martyrs.

In the Letter to the Standing Committee of the Organizing Committee of the “National War Invalids Day”, he advised: “War invalids are those who sacrifice their families and blood to protect the Fatherland and protect their compatriots. For the benefit of the Fatherland and their compatriots, you suffer from illness and disability. Therefore, the Fatherland and compatriots must be grateful and must help these heroic sons.”

The President presents a gift to a war invalid at the Duy Tien District Nursing Center (Ha Nam).

Under his direct guidance and attention, on July 27, 1947 - National War Invalids Day - was opened with a large rally held in Hung Son commune, Dai Tu district, Thai Nguyen province.

After the historic victory of Dien Bien Phu, our Party and State paid special attention to the work of war invalids, martyrs and people with revolutionary contributions. From July 1955, the National War Invalids Day was changed to War Invalids and Martyrs Day.

War Invalids and Martyrs Day is an important political and social event of profound humanitarian significance. This is an occasion for the entire Party, people and army to respectfully remember and pay tribute to revolutionary predecessors, heroic martyrs, and outstanding sons of the nation who fought bravely and sacrificed heroically; to be grateful to war invalids who devoted part of their blood and bones to the cause of national liberation and reunification, as well as to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland and fulfilling international obligations; to care for war invalids, sick soldiers and families of war martyrs.

Generations of Vietnamese people will forever remember the heroic feats, the glorious sacrifices, and the great contributions of compatriots and soldiers nationwide for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland and the happiness of the people.

To repay and honor the great sacrifices and contributions of heroic martyrs, war invalids, sick soldiers, families of martyrs, and people with meritorious services to the revolution, imbued with the national ethics of "When drinking water, remember its source" and "When eating fruit, remember the person who planted the tree", over the past 70 years, our Party and State have always paid attention to leading and directing the good work of war invalids, martyrs, and people with meritorious services to the revolution and organized and mobilized the entire population to actively participate in the movements of "Repaying gratitude", "The entire population takes care of families of war invalids, martyrs, and people with meritorious services to the revolution".

Many policies and laws on preferential treatment for martyrs, war invalids, sick soldiers, martyrs' families and people with meritorious services to the revolution have been issued; the beneficiaries of preferential policies have been expanded, and preferential regimes have been gradually improved, demonstrating the respect, gratitude and care of the Party, State and people for people with meritorious services.

The work of disseminating and disseminating policies and laws on preferential treatment for people with meritorious services has been effectively implemented by all levels and sectors in many appropriate forms, such as the programs and columns "Finding comrades", "Returning from memories" of Vietnam Television; "Answering policies", "Information on martyrs" of Voice of Vietnam Radio, National Defense Television; "Repaying gratitude", "Information on martyrs' graves" of People's Army Newspaper and many columns on people with meritorious services to the revolution on other media.

Thereby, it has contributed to educating the tradition of patriotism, revolutionary heroism and raising awareness of cadres, party members and people of all walks of life, especially the young generation, about the great contributions of martyrs, war invalids, sick soldiers, martyrs' families and people with meritorious services; clearly defining responsibilities and practical activities to arouse and promote the great potential in society to better care for and improve the material and spiritual life of people with meritorious services.

Along with the funding source for implementing preferential policies for meritorious people from the state budget, resources and forms of implementing preferential policies are increasingly abundant, diverse, and practically effective. Activities to care for meritorious people are increasingly developing, spreading widely, and receiving positive responses from the social community.

The movements of “Repaying gratitude”, “All people take care of families of war invalids, martyrs and people with revolutionary contributions”, and support for Vietnamese Heroic Mothers were promoted; the programs of building “Houses of gratitude”, “Houses of comrades”, “Warm clothes for war invalids and seriously ill soldiers”, “Silk clothes for Vietnamese Heroic Mothers” were maintained and widely developed in localities; the support of housing for people with revolutionary contributions and job creation for children of war invalids, seriously ill soldiers and seriously injured soldiers were focused on.

In addition to caring for and showing gratitude to those who have contributed to the revolution and their relatives, efforts have been made to renovate and upgrade martyr cemeteries, memorial steles, martyr temples, collect remains and identify martyrs. Many works honoring martyrs - heroes who "Determined to die for the Fatherland" have become historical relics, cultural works, symbols of the spirit, will to fight for independence and the desire for peace of the Vietnamese people, having profound educational significance in the tradition of patriotism and revolution, attracting a large number of compatriots, soldiers nationwide and international friends to visit and commemorate, such as Dien Bien Phu Cemetery, Truong Son Martyrs Cemetery, Road 9 Cemetery, Ben Duoc - Cu Chi Martyrs Memorial Temple, Dong Loc, Truong Bon, Lam Ha Youth Volunteer Martyrs Memorial Area... Tens of thousands of martyrs' remains have been searched for and collected in the country and in neighboring countries of Laos and Cambodia.

Investment and upgrading of DNA identification centers have been focused on, contributing to speeding up the identification of martyrs’ remains. These meaningful actions have helped ease the pain of martyrs’ families, the fathers, mothers, wives and children who are anxiously waiting day and night.

Many preferential policies for people with meritorious services in the fields of health, education, etc. have also been well implemented. On holidays, New Year, and July 27 every year, in addition to gifts from the President, departments, branches, organizations, and localities organize meetings, visit, and present gifts to families with meritorious services. People of all walks of life, organizations, and individuals are increasingly actively participating in the activities of "Repaying gratitude" and "Remembering the source of water", contributing to improving and enhancing the material and spiritual life of people with meritorious services.

Thanks to positive solutions, up to now, 97% of families of meritorious people nationwide have a standard of living equal to or higher than the average level in their place of residence. There are more and more typical examples of war invalids, sick soldiers, families of martyrs, and meritorious people with admirable will and determination, who have strived, overcome difficulties, and excelled in work, combat, labor, production, and business, actively participated in patriotic emulation movements, and taken the lead in the battle against poverty and backwardness, contributing to building an increasingly prosperous and beautiful homeland and country.

In order to promote the results and achievements over the past 70 years, and at the same time continue to strengthen the work of caring for war invalids, families of martyrs, and people with meritorious services to the revolution, in the coming time, all levels and sectors need to thoroughly grasp and continue to effectively implement the Party and State's policies and guidelines on preferential treatment for people with meritorious services, focusing on the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress, Directive No. 14-CT/TW of the Central Party Secretariat (Term XII) on continuing to strengthen the Party's leadership over the work of people with meritorious services to the revolution. Promote the widespread dissemination of the Party and State's policies and guidelines for war invalids, sick soldiers, families of martyrs, and people with meritorious services and the movements of "Repaying gratitude", "All people take care of families of war invalids, martyrs, and people with meritorious services to the revolution" among cadres, party members and people.

Focus on disseminating outstanding results and achievements in the work of people with meritorious services, especially in the development and implementation of preferential policies and regimes for people with meritorious services; results of caring for war invalids, sick soldiers, families of martyrs and supporting Vietnamese Heroic Mothers; the work of searching for and collecting martyrs' remains; the arousal and promotion of the spirit of self-reliance of war invalids, sick soldiers, and people with meritorious services...

Thereby, unifying the awareness of implementing well the preferential policy for people with meritorious services is both a sacred sentiment and responsibility of the entire political system and the entire people, and a factor ensuring social progress and justice, deeply demonstrating the superiority and good nature of our regime, contributing to consolidating the great national unity bloc, enhancing people's trust in the leadership of the Party and State.

Focus on leading and directing the full implementation of the Party's policies and the State's laws on war invalids, sick soldiers, families of martyrs, and people with meritorious services. In particular, pay special attention to families with many difficulties, people with meritorious services who are currently living alone and without support, families with meritorious services in ethnic minority areas, remote areas, and former revolutionary bases, striving to prevent households with meritorious services from falling into the category of poor households.

Speed ​​up the search, collection and identification of remains of martyrs with missing information. Prioritize resources to address urgent needs of those with meritorious services, such as supporting Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, vocational training, job creation, helping families with preferential policies to develop production and business, etc.

On the basis of mobilizing all social resources in combination with State resources, strive by 2020 to achieve the target of households with meritorious services receiving support to repair and build houses according to regulations and having a standard of living equal to or higher than the average of the residential community.

Continue to review, supplement and perfect the system of policies and laws on preferential treatment for meritorious people, especially focusing on resolving arising problems and shortcomings to promptly adjust and supplement them to suit the socio-economic conditions of the country. Timely resolve pending applications for confirmation of meritorious people, ensuring strictness, reasonability and sympathy so that meritorious people and their families can fully enjoy preferential policies of the Party and State.

Honor and commend the examples of war invalids, sick soldiers, martyrs' families, and meritorious people who have promoted the spirit of self-reliance, self-improvement, overcoming difficulties, actively working and producing, participating in patriotic emulation movements, hunger eradication and poverty reduction... Timely discover and replicate advanced models, commend and reward collectives and individuals with many achievements, actively contributing to helping policy families overcome difficulties and improve their lives.

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day, all levels and sectors need to organize practical, economical and effective activities with appropriate scale and forms associated with the implementation of political tasks of agencies, units and localities. Continue to promote the movements of "Repaying gratitude", "All people take care of families of war invalids, martyrs and people with meritorious services to the revolution" with specific actions, taking care of material and spiritual life, expressing deep gratitude and honor of the Party, State and people for those with meritorious services, contributing to highlighting the beauty of Vietnamese culture, enriching the humanistic traditions of our nation.

The great sacrifices and contributions of revolutionary predecessors, heroic martyrs, wounded and sick soldiers, martyrs' families, and people with revolutionary contributions are forever engraved in the hearts of every Vietnamese person. They are a precious spiritual resource that adds strength to our entire Party, people, and army to successfully carry out the cause of innovation, industrialization, modernization of the country, and international integration, firmly protecting the achievements of the revolution./.

According to VOV