Nghe An Province Martyrs' Families Support Association: 10-year journey of lighting the fire of gratitude and warming comradeship

Warm moral

When learning about the situation of Mr. Nguyen Ba Viet, father of martyr Nguyen Ba Nam in hamlet 4, Quynh Doi commune, Quynh Luu district, who is living in a damaged, dilapidated old house, the Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs of Nghe An province sympathized, shared and decided to call for and mobilize benefactors and businesses to support funding to build a house of gratitude.

With a kind heart, often sharing difficulties with those in difficult circumstances, Mr. Ho Duc Nhan - Director of Viet Long Mineral Exploitation and Construction Investment Joint Stock Company, Ho Chi Minh City donated 50 million VND to support the family to build a new house.

Touched by the affection of the Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs of Nghe An Province and the sponsor, Mr. Nguyen Ba Viet (father of martyr Nguyen Ba Nam) tearfully said: “My family is very grateful to the Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs of Nghe An Province and the golden heart of the benefactor who supported 50 million VND. Together with the money collected over many years and the contributions of his children and grandchildren, my family has now built a new, more spacious house to worship our son!”

As for Mr. Chu Sy Hung's family in Hoa Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, no joy can be described because after many years of searching, on April 6, 2024, he and his relatives were extremely moved when they received the remains of martyr Chu Van Hung (Mr. Hung's younger brother) from Chau Phu district cemetery, An Giang province for burial at their home district cemetery.

In March 1975, Chu Van Hung volunteered to join the army, participated in the fight against the American imperialists and then lost information until now. With the help of the Provincial Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs in collecting information and addresses of Nghe An martyrs who died on the battlefields, the family has now found the remains of martyr Chu Van Hung after 46 years...

“On the day we received the remains of martyr Chu Van Hung, the family was very grateful for the care and support of the Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs of the province. The men and women in the association went to Vinh station to join the family in receiving and bringing the remains of the martyr back to his hometown for the memorial service. We would like to thank the Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs of the province, the departments, branches, districts, and local authorities very much,” Mr. Chu Sy Hung emotionally said.

As for the family of Ms. Dang Thi Thuyet in My Son commune (Do Luong), after nearly 40 years of searching, the remains of martyr Dang Ba Tho (Ms. Thuyet's father) were brought from Binh Phuoc province to be buried in his hometown cemetery. Martyr Dang Ba Tho joined the army in 1981. During the battle to sweep away Pol Pot rebels, he sacrificed his life on March 17, 1985 on the Cambodian battlefield.

“The loss is so great, my mother passed away 20 years ago, and my grandparents are both 90 years old and bedridden due to a stroke. Now that my father has returned to his hometown, the family is so happy that they are choked with tears. So our wish has been fulfilled after many years of searching and waiting. The family thanks the Provincial Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs for always accompanying and supporting the family,” Ms. Dang Thi Thuyet said emotionally.

Take care of gratitude work

The war has long since ended, but the consequences for the families of martyrs in Nghe An province are still lingering and severe. Of the 45,000 martyrs, there are still nearly 23,370 (10% of the country) martyrs whose identities have not been determined or who do not have enough information. There are 24,000 graves, of which 9,000 have no names...

Although over the years, the Party and State have had many positive policies and guidelines to take care of the military's rear, martyrs' work, and martyrs' families, there is still much work to be done. This task requires the entire political system and the joint efforts of the whole society.

On April 15, 2014, the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued Decision No. 1514/QD-UBND allowing the establishment of the Provincial Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs, contributing to the efforts of all levels, sectors and State agencies to better implement the morality of "When drinking water, remember its source, forever be grateful to the heroic martyrs".

Overcoming difficulties and challenges, with affection and responsibility towards martyrs and their families, in 10 years of operation, the Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs of Nghe An province has gradually grown and operated effectively, especially in the work of mobilizing and developing members and organizing the association. From a few dozen members at the time of its establishment, the Association now has 415 members, many of whom are children of martyrs and relatives of martyrs' families.

Determining the principles and purposes, right from the beginning of its establishment, to collect information and accurately search for martyrs' remains, the Provincial Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs has regularly connected with a number of units, localities and Associations for Supporting Families of Martyrs of some provinces. As a result, in the past 10 years, the association has collected nearly 12,000 pieces of information and addresses of martyrs from Nghe An who died on the battlefields.

In order to have funds to take care of martyrs' families and organize the search for martyrs' graves, in recent years, the Provincial Association for Supporting Martyrs' Families has members who, despite their advanced age, are always active and responsible in association activities such as Mr. Ho Sy Ngon (86 years old), Mr. Bui Xuan Thinh (84 years old), Mr. Ho Cong Ky...

Thanks to that, the Association always receives attention and contributions from all levels, sectors, organizations, units, enterprises, and philanthropists inside and outside the province through support activities. Typical examples include: FAC Auditing Company Limited (Ho Chi Minh City); Giang Son Construction Joint Stock Company (Quynh Luu); Mr. Ho Duc Nhan - Director of Viet Long Mineral Exploitation and Construction Investment Joint Stock Company, Ho Chi Minh City; Hong Loan Textile and Garment Joint Stock Company (Vinh City) ...

Sharing about accompanying the Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs of the province in charity work over the past years, Mr. Ho Duc Nhan - Director of Viet Long Mineral Exploitation and Construction Investment Joint Stock Company, Ho Chi Minh City (a native of Quynh Luu), said: “Myself and the company always accompany social security activities, for the community. This is the company's responsibility to society, to the disadvantaged in society. Therefore, every year, the company allocates from its operating resources and revenue to support charity programs, support the construction of houses for families of martyrs across the country, especially Nghe An province".

Over the past 10 years, the Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs in Nghe An province has mobilized 48.6 billion VND, from which the mobilized funds have supported the construction of 546 new houses (each house worth 50 - 80 million VND) with a budget of 30 billion VND; donated 457 savings books worth 3.8 billion VND; donated 14,800 gifts worth 8.5 billion VND; donated 90 wheelchairs, 165 bicycles with a budget of 300 million VND; supported the construction and upgrading of 6 cemeteries with a total budget of 2.5 billion VND...

Discussing the orientation of activities in the coming time, Mr. Ho Duc Thanh - Chairman of the Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs of Nghe An province, said: The Association continues to diversify forms of mobilization and support, at the same time, gradually and more actively shift to searching for martyrs' remains to bring them back and bury them in their hometowns; continue to call on and mobilize businesses inside and outside the province to support about 2 billion VND each year; coordinate with military units, Associations for Supporting Families of Martyrs of provinces to collect information, identify martyrs... At the same time, the Association will focus on preparing the content for the 3rd Congress of the term (2024 - 2029), expected at the end of this year".