Relics 'telling stories' of martyrs at Military Region 4 Museum

Content: My Ha; Photo: Duc Anh• DNUM_CAZAHZCACA 20:15

(Baonghean.vn) - During the two long resistance wars of the nation, thousands of martyrs fell, fighting for independence and freedom for the country. Many of them left behind no letter, no news. Even the remaining relics will forever be lost to the owner's address...

The memorial house and display of martyrs' relics at the Military Region 4 Museum has for many years been a place to preserve, remember, and record the contributions of those who heroically sacrificed for the cause of national liberation and reunification. Photo: Duc Anh

Part of the memorial house is the relics lying with the graves that the teams collecting martyrs' graves have searched for over the past half decade. Among them are tombstones with names but no hometown, and some with only symbols such as K6, B10. Photo: Duc Anh

In the midst of glorious battles, it was very difficult to record the information of martyrs who had sacrificed their lives. Therefore, many materials were used to engrave the names of martyrs such as mountain rocks, dry food crates, and pieces of aircraft wreckage to mark their resting places. Photo: Duc Anh

There are tombstones made from plane wreckage but without names, only symbols. Over the years, there have been thousands of searches for martyrs’ remains but verifying their identities is very difficult. Photo: Duc Anh

Up to this point, among the martyrs who have been gathered, there are still more than 300,000 remains that have not been identified. In the archives of the Military Region 4 Museum, there are many steles that still contain some information but the addresses of the martyrs have not been found. Photo: Duc Anh

In the photo, the stele (the size of a pot lid) reads: Martyr Pham Ngoc Chien (born in 1948), from Cam Doi - Thong Nhat, Gia Loc (Hai Duong). The martyr died on March 5, 1968 and was found by the 337th group at Ta Phang Mountain - Huong Loc - Huong Hoa (Quang Tri). The stele in the left corner has the name of Martyr Tran Xuan Dien (1948), died on May 16, 1970 in Gia Thuy, Gia Vien - Thai Binh. The stele was found by the 192 - Thua Thien Hue Collection Team in Area 34 - Vietnam - Laos Road 559 in July 2017. Another stele reads Nguyen Huu Cuoc (born October 12, 1947), from Lam Ha - Xuan Lien - Nghi Xuan (Ha Tinh), died on May 17, 1970. Photo: Duc Anh

Over the years, thousands of letters have been sent to the Military Region 4 Museum from families of martyrs, hoping to find and verify the background of their deceased loved ones. However, there are still thousands of unanswered questions. Photo: Duc Anh

Preserving relics is a way to pay tribute to the martyrs who died for the country. Photo: Duc Anh

Among the relics kept here, there are relics sent back by soldiers on the other side of the battle line. Returning the relics is also a way for them to free themselves from the torment and obsession of an unjust war. Photo: Duc Anh

Searching for and collecting relics of martyrs is an especially difficult task. Photo: Duc Anh

Many of the collected souvenirs were sent by wounded soldiers and martyrs' families with the wish to preserve forever the heroic memories of the heroic fight for independence and freedom. Photo: Duc Anh

These are relics found at Quang Tri Citadel in unnamed graves. However, fortunately, 2 martyrs were found with full information and images. Among them, there was martyr Le Binh Chung - a son of Quynh My commune, Quynh Luu district. The love story of martyr Le Binh Chung and a girl from Quang Binh during the battle for the citadel has also become an immortal love story, both passionate and earnest but also very tragic. Photo: Duc Anh

Hundreds of other relics were also found among the graves of the martyrs. These are souvenirs that are closely associated with their daily lives and followed them until they died. Photo: Duc Anh

A large part of the relics that are preserved today are letters from martyrs. These letters were once a bridge between them and their families, loved ones and hometowns. Photo: Duc Anh

Letters are also a great motivation and beautiful memories for those who stay behind to preserve images of their loved ones. In a letter from a martyr to his hometown girl named Hao, anyone who reads it will shed tears: "Hao, my dear / The moment of farewell has come / Let's part ways, my dear / Sitting next to each other, without saying a word / We just look at each other and smile." After this letter, the martyr sent many more letters to his lover, expressing his longing, but always exuding an optimistic spirit, proud because his battalion had just won a great victory. After the letter dated April 6, 1972, which he wrote as "The Last Letter", it is unknown whether his lover received any of his letters, but these lines will forever be immortalized like his name engraved on the mountain stone, like the love story between him and his hometown girl. Photo: Duc Anh

Preserving these relics also allows today's people to have a full view of the nation's long-term struggle. It also reminds today's and future generations to always be grateful for the great contributions and sacrifices that previous generations have made for independence and freedom. Photo: Duc Anh