Nghe An provincial leaders pay tribute to heroic martyrs at Quang Tri Citadel, Thach Han River, and Vinh Linh 'steel land'

Delegation of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee offered flowers and incense at Quang Tri Citadel, Quang Tri Province. Photo: Thanh Duy

Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council as Head of the delegation. The delegation included members of the Provincial Party Standing Committee: Le Duc Cuong - Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Committee; Nguyen Thi Thu Huong - Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department; Nguyen Nam Dinh - Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Hoang Nghia Hieu - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Vo Thi Minh Sinh - Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province, and representatives of leaders of a number of departments, branches, unions, and armed forces of the province.

Quang Tri Citadel is located in the center of Quang Tri town, built under the Nguyen Dynasty. The Memorial was built in 1997, has a circular shape in the shape of a common grave. In the middle of the monument is a lamp symbol 8.1m high, symbolizing the 81 days and nights of heroic fighting at the Citadel by our army and people.

Delegation from Nghe An province offered flowers and incense at the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel Memorial. Photo: Thanh Duy

During the resistance war against the US to save the country, Quang Tri Citadel has recorded in the history of the nation a shining milestone of revolutionary heroism. Thousands of soldiers have forever remained in the ground of Quang Tri Citadel in the heroic and resilient fight to protect the Citadel and Quang Tri town during 81 fierce days and nights in the summer of 1972 (from June 28 to September 16, 1972).

During those 81 days and nights, the US dropped 328,000 tons of bombs on Quang Tri Citadel and Quang Tri town, equivalent to the destructive power of 7 atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima, Japan in 1945; on average, each soldier had to endure 100 tons of bombs and 200 artillery shells.

Nghe An Provincial Party Secretary offers incense to commemorate heroic martyrs at Quang Tri Ancient Citadel Memorial. Photo: Thanh Duy

Leaders of Nghe An province offer incense to commemorate heroic martyrs at the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel Memorial. Photo: Thanh Duy

The 81-day and night battle to protect the Citadel and Quang Tri town contributed to creating a historical turning point that changed the situation of the war, forcing the US to resume negotiations and sign the Paris Agreement on ending the war in Vietnam, recognizing the independence, unity and territorial integrity of Vietnam; contributing to creating the premise for our army and people to launch the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, creating the Great Victory of Spring 1975, fully realizing the sacred wish of beloved President Ho Chi Minh for the North and South to reunite as one, and the unified Vietnam.

Quang Tri Citadel today is a place to educate generations about patriotism and revolutionary traditions and has become a sacred symbol for the desire for peace.

Delegation from Nghe An province listened to the explanation about the 81-day and night battle to protect Quang Tri Citadel by our army and people. Photo: Thanh Duy

Delegates were moved when hearing about the last letter of martyr Le Van Huynh, Le Loi commune, Kien Xuong district, Thai Binh province before a battle took place at Quang Tri Citadel. Photo: Thanh Duy

In a solemn and emotional atmosphere, at the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel Martyrs Memorial - modeled as a common grave of soldiers who sacrificed their lives at the Citadel - Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy and delegates respectfully bowed to offer flowers and incense to express their deep gratitude for the noble sacrifices and contributions of the heroic martyrs for peace, national independence and national reunification.

Next, the provincial leaders held a ceremony at the Ceremony Hall and released flowers on the southern bank of the Thach Han River in Quang Tri Province. This is an annual activity, especially in July every year, to express gratitude to the soldiers who died for the country.

The Thach Han River flows through Quang Tri town. During the 81-day and night war in 1972, the Thach Han River was the main supply route for manpower and materials to the Quang Tri front. To cut off that supply route, the enemy frantically bombed and shelled, leaving many of our soldiers lying on the river.

Delegation of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province offered incense at the southern bank of Thach Han River to pay tribute to the heroic martyrs who fought bravely, sacrificed, and mingled their blood and bones into the Thach Han River to regain independence and unification for the country. Photo: Thanh Duy

Thach Han River Wharf was originally a river wharf for ferries crossing the Thach Han River, connecting Quang Tri town on the South bank with Trieu Phong district on the North bank. This is a waterway route that has long been important in the economic and cultural exchange of people on both banks.

During 81 days and nights in 1972, thousands of soldiers crossed the Thach Han River from the North bank to the South bank to fight to protect the town and Quang Tri Citadel. Many sons of the Fatherland heroically sacrificed their lives, their blood and bones merging into the Thach Han River. The Thach Han River is considered a “martyrs’ cemetery without tombstones”.

Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy and delegates released wreaths on the Thach Han River to express deep gratitude to the heroic martyrs who fell on the river.sacred place filled with blood and flowers in the fiery summer of 1972. Photo: Thanh Duy

The Thach Han River is a historical relic witnessing the heroic sacrifices of the steadfast sons of Vietnam. Their blood and bones have melted into the motherland, merging into the immense waters of the Thach Han River to be forever engraved in the memory of future generations. Photo: Thanh Duy

Quang Tri Citadel and Thach Han River Wharf are two of eight component relics of the special national relic "Quang Tri Citadel historical relic and places commemorating the 81-day and night event in 1972".

Next, the delegation of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province came to offer flowers and incense to commemorate the heroic martyrs at the Martyrs Cemetery of Vinh Linh district, Quang Tri province.

Vinh Linh District Martyrs Cemetery is the largest district-level cemetery in Quang Tri province. Photo: Thanh Duy

Nghe An Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy rings the bell to pray for heroic martyrs at the Vinh Linh District Martyrs Cemetery. Photo: Thanh Duy

During the resistance war against the US, Vinh Linh was the frontier land of the socialist North, the place name associated with Hien Luong bridge, Ben Hai river, the place that witnessed the pain of dividing the North and South for more than 20 years and historical events associated with the process of fighting for national liberation and unification of the country by our army and people.

In the fierce war, Vinh Linh was known as the "steel land", every inch of land here was soaked with the blood of many outstanding people who fell for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.

Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy offers incense to commemorate heroic martyrs at the Martyrs' Memorial Cemetery of Vinh Linh District, Quang Tri Province. Photo: Thanh Duy

Delegation of Nghe An province and leaders of Vinh Linh district offered incense to commemorate heroic martyrs at the Martyrs' Memorial Cemetery of Vinh Linh district, Quang Tri province. Photo: Thanh Duy

At the Martyrs Cemetery of Vinh Linh District, Quang Tri Province, there are 800 martyrs from Nghe Tinh resting in peace. Photo: Thanh Duy

Delegation of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province respectfully commemorated the heroic martyrs of Nghe Tinh province at the Martyrs' Cemetery of Vinh Linh district. Photo: Thanh Duy

Located in the north of Ben Hai River, Vinh Linh District Martyrs' Cemetery is the largest district-level martyrs' cemetery in Quang Tri province, the resting place of 5,630 heroic martyrs from 41 provinces and cities across the country, including 800 martyrs from Nghe An and Ha Tinh.

Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy offered incense to commemorate the graves of martyrs from Nghe Tinh at the Vinh Linh District Martyrs' Cemetery. Photo: Thanh Duy

Comrade Le Duc Cuong - Member of the Standing Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Board, offered incense to commemorate the graves of martyrs from Nghe Tinh at the Vinh Linh District Martyrs' Cemetery. Photo: Thanh Duy

Comrade Nguyen Thi Thu Huong - Member of the Standing Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department, offered incense to commemorate the graves of martyrs from Nghe Tinh at the Martyrs' Cemetery of Vinh Linh District. Photo: Thanh Duy

In front of the Monument and the graves of martyrs at the Martyrs' Cemetery of Vinh Linh district, with respect and infinite gratitude for the great contributions and sacrifices of previous generations, Secretary of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee Thai Thanh Quy and delegates and leaders of Vinh Linh district respectfully offered flowers, incense, and observed a moment of silence to commemorate the heroic martyrs - the outstanding sons of the nation who did not spare their blood and bones for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland and the happiness of the people.

Comrade Nguyen Nam Dinh - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council offered incense to commemorate the graves of martyrs from Nghe Tinh at the Martyrs' Cemetery of Vinh Linh district. Photo: Thanh Duy

Comrade Vo Thi Minh Sinh - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province offered incense to commemorate the graves of martyrs from Nghe Tinh province at the Martyrs' Cemetery of Vinh Linh district. Photo: Thanh Duy

Comrade Le Van Luong - Secretary of the Provincial Youth Union, representing Nghe An youth, offered incense to commemorate the graves of martyrs from Nghe Tinh at the Martyrs Cemetery of Vinh Linh district. Photo: Thanh Duy

Leaders of Vinh Linh district, Quang Tri province burn incense at the graves of martyrs from Nghe Tinh province at Vinh Linh district martyrs cemetery. Photo: Thanh Duy