Stone blocks in the shape of the Fatherland

(Baonghean) -Through the ups and downs of history, the Vietnamese people have never forgotten the image of their homeland's sea and islands, especially the beloved Truong Sa! There, the children of Vietnam are steadily holding their guns to guard the sea and sky of the Fatherland every day. And today, the coral stones from Truong Sa are kept at Nghe An Museum as proof that the country's shape is always intact.

To be able to preserve the sea and islands of the Fatherland as they are today, the merits of the heroic martyrs who fell bravely with their guns firmly held to protect the sea and sky of the homeland far away, will always be remembered by future generations. There, they are on duty day and night, guarding every grain of land and rock for the peace of the sea and sky of the Fatherland. Their merits and steadfast will, spanning the historical tradition of building and defending the country, have forged the spirit of solidarity of the entire nation for thousands of years.

Nghe An Museum is a place to preserve thousands of historical artifacts of the tradition of building and protecting the country, each artifact is a testament to each era of the Vietnamese people. Among those artifacts, 21 stones from Truong Sa in the cozy museum space, make the heart flutter with nostalgia for each beloved island of the Fatherland. The event in May 2010, the Vietnam Navy Command presented 21 stones from Truong Sa to Nghe An, a locality rich in revolutionary tradition and also rich in the spirit of fighting to protect the Fatherland, made the hearts of the Vietnamese people proud.

Coral rocks from Truong Sa - symbol of national sovereignty
of Vietnam on display at Nghe An Museum

Mr. Nguyen Danh Du (75 years old) in Doi Cung ward (Vinh city) confided: "Every time I visit the museum, I feel proud of the historical artifacts on display. Last year, when I heard that the Museum received 21 stones from Truong Sa, people like us have never been to the island, but seeing those artifacts makes us feel that Truong Sa is very close to us."

Looking at each stone, somewhere still lingers the salty taste of the ocean, of the land and sky of the Southern country, built and preserved for thousands of years. How respectful and sacred it is when in the deep layer containing the rough exterior of the sea stone, there is hidden the blood and bones of the heroic martyrs who fell while fighting for it with the enemy. The pride of the nation is manifested in the stone. The pride in the patriotic tradition of future generations is also expressed in the stone. The stone has witnessed many ups and downs of history as well as forged people to overcome hardships to sow life for life. And, the stone - Truong Sa has the sacred soul of the mountains and rivers for thousands of years converging here. People are also attached to the stone as their own flesh and blood, cherishing and protecting it over the years. Even though the stone is eroded by wind and water, the spirit and heart of the Vietnamese people cannot fade through all the times. Rocks still have age and names, just like people who were born and nurtured by their parents through the plowing and harvesting seasons. The island – Truong Sa, a call from ancient times has been closely linked to the origin of a historical period when our ancestors rode the waves and the wind to bring seeds to grow green in the middle of the ocean.

Tran Thi Duyen, a student of Ngoc Son Secondary School (Quynh Luu - Nghe An), when visiting the museum, saw with her own eyes the stones with the names of each island in Truong Sa, confided: "This summer, my parents took me to visit Uncle Ho's hometown in Kim Lien (Nam Dan), then went to Nghe An Museum. Looking at each stone in Truong Sa, I feel proud of our Fatherland through the history of fighting to maintain sovereignty over the territory. Coming here, the image of the navy soldiers firmly holding their guns to maintain sovereignty over the sea and islands of the homeland makes me love my country even more. At school, I listened to the teacher teach about the sea and islands, now seeing each stone and island of my homeland appearing here, I feel extremely fond of my country"

And, not simply just shapes, the 21 stones from Truong Sa sent to Nghe An seem to contain the message of the navy soldiers to the mainland - the rear to rest assured when there are soldiers firmly guarding the land and sky. As Rear Admiral, Deputy Political Commissar of the Navy Nguyen Cong Hoa affirmed at the ceremony of presenting and placing the sovereignty stone of Truong Sa archipelago in Nghe An: "This is a profound political and social event towards the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland. This event will contribute to educating future generations about the right to master the national sea and islands; Expressing the sacred affection of the soldiers and people of Truong Sa island with the ethnic people of Nghe An province".

Mr. Hoang Minh Truyen, Director of the Museum, said: The Nghe An Museum receiving and preserving 21 coral stones from Truong Sa is a very special event. With 21 stones symbolizing 21 islands and many military bases on Truong Sa archipelago being preserved here, it contributes to educating the tradition of national pride for future generations.
On the occasion of the 120th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19, 1890 - May 19, 2010), the Party Committee and people of Nghe An built and inaugurated the Uncle Ho Temple on Truong Sa Island. This event further fueled the patriotism of the entire nation. Today, islands such as Gac Ma, Sinh Ton, Nam Yet, Binh Nguyen... have become closer to the hearts of every Nghe An citizen. Even closer are the regular trips from the mainland to Truong Sa, carrying the hearts of Nghe An people to the island - a sacred part of the Fatherland, where there are heroes guarding the sky, sea, and sacred islands of the Fatherland in the middle of the ocean.

Truong Sa! Two beloved words in everyone's mind. Every stone, every inch of beloved land is being embraced and protected by the whole nation with the pride of the Vietnamese people. Truong Sa in my country and Truong Sa in yours are no longer far away, still with us, merging into the flesh and blood, the shape of the Vietnamese Fatherland, inseparable/..

Ngoc Thai