Forever shine the moral 'Drink water, remember its source'

Every July, we remember July 1947, when President Ho Chi Minh proposed that the Government choose one day of the year as “National War Invalids Day” so that our people could have the opportunity to express their gratitude and love for war invalids. Since then, July 27 has become a day of special significance, a cultural beauty of the Vietnamese people.

Monument of Vietnamese Heroic Mother Nguyen Thi Thu - the representative of more than 50,000 Vietnamese Heroic Mothers across the country, at the foot of Cam Mountain, Phu Thanh village, Tam Phu commune, Tam Ky city, Quang Nam province. Photo: Thanh Cuong

First held on July 27, 1947, then in 1995 renamed War Invalids and Martyrs Day, this commemorative day "makes Vietnamese patriots remember the wounded soldiers, the families of martyrs, the unknown heroes, who either sacrificed their lives or contributed blood and bones to the great resistance of our nation..."; and "The great merits of the martyrs are deeply engraved in the hearts of the entire people and the country... The blood and sacrifice of the heroic martyrs have colored the glorious revolutionary flag, so that our country can blossom with independence and bear the fruit of freedom" (President Ho Chi Minh).

Is there any place like our country, written with blood thousands of red history chapters? And is there any place like the S-shaped strip of land, wherever you go you will see monuments, martyrs' cemeteries, and common graves? Generations of fathers and brothers have fallen for the Fatherland to rise up, their blood and bones have merged into the motherland, dedicating their most beautiful youth to the sacred ideal while "their hearts still flutter with hope for the future".

Caring for seriously wounded soldiers at the Nghe An Center for Wounded and Sick Soldiers. Photo: Duc Anh

Those who were lucky enough to emerge from the war and return to normal life, many wounded and sick soldiers continued to shine in social life and economic development movements. In any circumstance, Uncle Ho's soldiers still promoted their qualities of resilience, indomitability, and creativity, truly blooming flowers in the garden of Vietnamese revolutionary heroism, shining examples that touched people's hearts, encouraged, motivated, inspired, and spread the spirit of overcoming difficulties and rising up.

The beautiful present and bright future are thanks to the incomparable contributions and sacrifices of a generation of selfless people for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland. Continuing and multiplying the thousand-year-old moral tradition of the nation "When drinking water, remember its source", originating from the deep gratitude, from the concerns and anguish of later generations towards the heroic martyrs, with responsibility, gratitude and the motto of not letting any meritorious person not enjoy preferential policies of the Party, State, and care of the People, over the years, the Party, State and People have paid great attention and care to the work of gratitude. As Uncle Ho advised “those loyal children, the Government and the people must repay them in a worthy way”, and he explained: “The Fatherland and the people must be grateful, must help those heroic children, everyone must always learn the brave spirit of the martyrs to overcome all difficulties and hardships to complete the revolutionary cause that the martyrs left behind”. This is both our sentiment and also our sacred responsibility!

People offer incense at the Vietnam - Laos Cemetery. Photo: Viet Hung