Linh Son - a heroic homeland

(Baonghean) - These days, great joy is coming to the people and armed forces of Linh Son commune (Anh Son district): the Provincial People's Committee has proposed that the State award them the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces...

Traveling along National Highway 7A, we arrived at Linh Son commune, a peaceful rural area beside the picturesque Lam River, with rolling green hills and mountains, and famous for its "gay tea" (a type of traditional tea). Notably, this is the cradle of the revolution, a place that "once rose up," forever echoing in the Soviet-Nghe Tinh anthem.

Looking back at history, during the resistance war against French colonialism, Linh Son was a locality trusted by the Central Party Committee and the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee to organize many important conferences and served as a base for many provincial-level Party, government, and mass organization agencies. During the resistance war against the US, Linh Son was a key target of US air attacks aimed at cutting off the vital transportation route, Highway 7A, to prevent our support to the battlefield. Furthermore, Linh Son was also a staging area for many military units and hundreds of thousands of tons of weapons, food, and supplies to support the battlefields in Laos and Southern Vietnam.

Continuing the traditions of their homeland, the people of Linh Son have always been at the forefront of revolutionary struggles and the building of a new life. This land has given birth to three talented generals of the Vietnam People's Army: Major General Cao Xuan Khuong - former Deputy Commander of Military Region 4, who faced life and death in the campaign to defend Quang Tri Citadel (1972); Major General Nguyen Manh Thang - former Director of the Intelligence Department, Border Guard; and Major General Pham Van Thach - former Director of the Political Affairs Department, General Department of Force Building, Ministry of Public Security.

In the early years after the reunification of the country in 1975, the armed forces of Linh Son continued to clear, collect, and dismantle 31 magnetic bombs and 547 cluster bombs, and fill in 357 bomb craters. To maintain order and combat social evils, the commune maintained a mobile militia platoon of 22-25 members and a local force of 42 members ready to fight in case of any situation, ensuring security and order in the villages and protecting people's property.

In carrying out activities to express gratitude and remembrance, the commune mobilized the people to support the construction of a memorial monument for fallen soldiers with nearly 500 million VND, built 7 houses of compassion worth 236 million VND, renovated houses for 26 war invalids and families of fallen soldiers in difficult circumstances worth 211 million VND. It also provided land for housing to 2 severely disabled war invalids worth 100 million VND. Furthermore, it presented 45 savings accounts to policy beneficiaries, each worth 3 million VND.

Mr. Nguyen Canh Toan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Linh Son commune, happily stated: "With continuous efforts and dedication, worthy of the revolutionary traditions of our homeland, the Party Committee of Linh Son commune has been recognized for many years as an exemplary, clean, and strong Party Committee, receiving commendations from the Provincial Party Committee. The local government has always excellently fulfilled its duties, receiving the 'Leading Unit in Emulation Movement' flag from the Government and the Provincial People's Committee in 2008 and 2010. The Fatherland Front and people's organizations have always excellently fulfilled their duties, receiving commendations from the Central and provincial levels... The joy is multiplied as the people and armed forces of Linh Son are being nominated by the State for the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces."

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