Speech by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the 50th Anniversary of Truong Bon Victory

Dear leaders of central and local agencies!

Dear comrades, heroes of the people's armed forces, veterans, wounded soldiers, sick soldiers, former youth volunteers and relatives of wounded soldiers and martyrs!

Dear leaders of Nghe An province through the periods, dear delegates, dear compatriots and comrades!

During the resistance war against the US to save the country, liberate the South, and unify the country, Nghe Tinh was one of the major, direct rear areas of the front line, a particularly important traffic hub, connecting the main routes to transport cadres, soldiers, military provisions, and ammunition from the Northern rear to support the major front line in the South. Tens of thousands of cadres, youth volunteers, frontline laborers, and people participated in maintaining this important route.

Key, strategic positions such as Truong Bon in the North, Dong Loc Junction in the South, Lam River... became the focus of fierce attacks by the US Air Force. Despite rain of bombs and bullets, regardless of hardship and sacrifice, the youth volunteers and main forces carried out the clearance of unexploded bombs, filled bomb craters, and opened the way to the front line.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stated that Truong Bon is a shining symbol of the youth volunteer force and revolutionary heroism. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Exactly half a century ago, in the early morning of October 31, 1968, right here - the sacred and legendary Truong Bon, 13 youth volunteers of the "Steel Squad", Suicide Company 317 heroically sacrificed their lives, including soldiers who had completed their mission and received their assignment to go to war, some who had been sent to school, some who had set their wedding dates. But all of them did not hesitate, still volunteered to do their duty, determined to keep the traffic veins connecting the rear with the front line open.

The heroic sacrifice of 13 youth volunteers at Truong Bon is a shining example of the great sacrifices of generations of youth, of 43,000 youth volunteers in Nghe An province, as well as hundreds of thousands of youth volunteers in all parts of the country in the cause of liberating the South and unifying the country.

You, my brothers, have devoted your entire youth and your blood for independence, for freedom, for the unification of the country to clear the way for troops and shipments to be on time for battle day and night. Thousands of young volunteers will forever remain on this land as the poet Lam Thi My Da praised:“The name of the street is the name you left behind/ Your death leaves a green sky of girls/ I see myself in your life”.

Along with Dong Loc T-junction, Hang Tam Co, Quang Tri Citadel and many other historical sites, Truong Bon has gone down in history as a legend of the sacred land soaked in the blood of heroic martyrs and a shining symbol of revolutionary heroism, a highlight of the resistance war against America to save the country and the pride of all of us and future generations about a fierce war, about glorious and resounding victories against all invading enemies.

Truong Bon will forever be a red address to educate our descendants about the heroic tradition of the nation, the passionate patriotism, the indomitable revolutionary will of previous generations, contributing to making our nation and our country forever eternal and develop brilliantly and gloriously as today.

Dear compatriots and comrades!

Today, returning to this sacred land, we respectfully celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Truong Bon Victory, together recalling memories, recalling the names of people, mountains, and rivers associated with glorious feats of arms in the past. We would like to express our sincere respect and deep gratitude for the great sacrifices and contributions of millions of heroic martyrs, wounded and sick soldiers across the country. Those who did not spare their youth, did not spare their lives, were ready to accept all missions, and rushed into the most dangerous places with the spirit of "Determined to die for the Fatherland, determined to live".

In this solemn ceremony, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, I respectfully send to the veteran comrades, the Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, the wounded soldiers, sick soldiers, veterans, former youth volunteers and relatives of the wounded and martyrs' families in Nghe An province as well as the whole country my warm regards and deep gratitude.

After more than 43 years of national reunification, the war has receded, the land of Truong Bon, once a land of bombs and storms, has risen strongly, becoming a green land, full of vitality.

With the attention of the Party, State, Party committees, authorities and people of Nghe An province, together with the cooperation of comrades and compatriots nationwide, we have invested in renovating, constructing and promoting the historical value of Truong Bon relic site into a national relic to honor the youth volunteer forces.

Promoting the patriotic and revolutionary tradition of the land of talented people, the homeland of the great President Ho Chi Minh and many great patriots and cultural figures, in recent years, the Party Committee, government and people of Nghe An have strived to build and develop the province to become more and more beautiful and prosperous, the people's lives are increasingly prosperous and happy. The economy has grown strongly, shifting positively towards industrialization and modernization; agriculture and rural areas have received strong investment, with many appropriate mechanisms and policies for sustainable development. Culture and society have made remarkable progress, social security is guaranteed, and is getting better and better.

Policies for people with meritorious services have been implemented synchronously and comprehensively; people's living standards have been improved. National defense - security, social order and safety have been maintained. Party building and the political system have been strengthened. These important and very proud achievements are creating a solid momentum for Nghe An to continue to have strong development in the coming time.

On this occasion, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, I would like to warmly commend and highly appreciate the comprehensive socio-economic achievements of the Party Committee, government and people of Nghe An province in recent years. In particular, the work of caring for people with meritorious services, paying attention to building red addresses to educate traditions for the younger generation, of which relic sites such as Kim Lien, Truong Bon... are very typical addresses.

Dear compatriots and comrades!

Over the years, our Party and State have had many policies and guidelines to care for people with meritorious services, families of war invalids and martyrs. However, for various reasons, many war veterans, war invalids, former Youth Volunteers, and relatives of martyrs still face many difficulties in life and need to be shared and helped.

I would like to request ministries, branches, localities, agencies, organizations, businesses and people nationwide to join hands to better care for the material and spiritual lives of families of martyrs, wounded soldiers, sick soldiers, veterans, former Youth Volunteers and all people who have contributed to the revolution.

This is the duty and permanent responsibility of the entire political system, of the whole society, of each of us - those who are fortunate to live in a time of peace and development.

I hope that the act of repaying gratitude and showing gratitude to those who have contributed will be multiplied more and more, carried out regularly and continuously, with many specific and practical actions.

Dear compatriots and comrades!

Visiting my hometown Nghe An province on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Truong Bon Victory, I hope that, with all my responsibility and gratitude to the generations of fathers and brothers who sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, the Party Committees, authorities, army and people of Nghe An province will join hands, unite, and strive to build our province into one of the best provinces in the North, contributing to building our country more dignified and beautiful as taught by beloved Uncle Ho.

On the occasion of today's ceremony, I welcome and commend Nghe An province and Nhan Dan Newspaper for jointly organizing the solemn ceremony of the 50th anniversary of Truong Bon Victory and the art program "Truong Bon: Legendary Land".

This is a meaningful activity, expressing deep gratitude to heroes and martyrs; at the same time contributing to preserving and promoting a legendary place for future generations.

Today, our country is independent and unified, our people live in freedom and peace. Every time we witness rapid changes and developments in all parts of the country, especially in places where war has passed, we become more deeply aware of the great sacrifices of the previous generation who accepted "rather sacrifice everything than lose the country, not become slaves" and vowed to strive with all their might, resolutely preserve the achievements of the revolution, firmly protect the independence, sovereignty, unity and sacred territorial integrity of the Fatherland, build the homeland of Vietnam to become increasingly prosperous, and the people to have increasingly prosperous and happy lives.

I wish all veteran comrades, People's Armed Forces Heroes, wounded and sick soldiers, relatives of martyrs, people with meritorious services to the revolution, and all delegates, compatriots, and comrades good health, happiness, and success. Sincerely thank you!./.