Honoring historical values

(Baonghean) - Rarely has a competition been launched in such a short time yet generated such widespread appeal and impact. From third and fourth graders to veterans over 80 years old, all participants, with their enthusiasm, brought unexpected success to the competition. This was the competition to learn about the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army and the 25th anniversary of the National Defense Day on December 22, 2014.

Meeting Nguyen The Hung, an official from the Quynh Luu District Youth Union, at the awards ceremony, Hung excitedly shared that this was an extremely meaningful learning experience for young people and youth union members nationwide. Specifically for the Quynh Luu District Youth Union, immediately after launching the competition, it created a vibrant atmosphere of competition within youth organizations and schools. Hung said that the history and traditions of their ancestors, the glorious and heroic history of the Vietnam People's Army, always strongly appeal to today's generations. Through the competition, today's youth understand, love, and appreciate the beautiful values ​​of life more. It is also a way for today's youth union members to express gratitude for the sacrifices, losses, and immeasurable contributions of previous generations. Therefore, in a short time, the Quynh Luu District Youth Union received nearly 300 high-quality entries from youth union members in the district. The first prize for the team category, awarded by the Organizing Committee to the Quynh Luu District Youth Union, is a recognition of the efforts of young people in this coastal region.

Awards were presented to the winning units.

In early October 2014, the competition to learn about the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army and the 25th anniversary of the National Defense Day was officially launched in Nghe An province. Prior to that, in late September, the competition was initiated and directed by the Command of Military Region IV. To ensure the competition's widespread impact on all segments of the population, on October 25, 2014, the Provincial People's Committee issued Plan No. 569/KH-UBND. Accordingly, it directed the Provincial Military Command to coordinate with the Provincial Youth Union, the Department of Education and Training, and the Provincial Veterans Association to widely implement the competition among all segments of the population. In less than two months after its launch, nearly 100% of grassroots youth organizations throughout the province had participated. The competition organizers received 126,727 entries, including many meticulously crafted and heartfelt submissions that reflected the sentiments of individuals and groups towards the noble values ​​of the history of the national liberation struggle.

In particular, the competition organizers received over 1000 entries from third-grade students, and hundreds of high-quality entries from veterans. Notable examples include Mr. Nguyen Van Chien, 81 years old, a member of the Veterans Association of Vinh City; and Mr. Nguyen Van Sang, 80 years old, a member of the Veterans Association of Nam Dan District. From the plains to remote areas, from the coast to the mountains, from the armed forces to the people in border regions, the competition has become a powerful political activity. It has awakened national pride and a sense of responsibility towards the Fatherland and the nation in each individual. Through the competition, the noble image of the Vietnamese soldiers has been powerfully preserved among the people. This includes glorious victories, symbols of revolutionary heroism, resounding achievements, and the everyday qualities of the officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army. The competition also serves as an encouragement for today's young generation to inherit and develop the traditions of their ancestors, continuing to uphold the spirit of self-reliance and self-improvement, and contributing their strength and intellect to the cause of building and protecting the Fatherland.

The Provincial Military Command is the unit assigned the task of presiding over the competition to learn about the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army and the 25th anniversary of the National Defense Day. Lieutenant Ho Xuan Thang, Youth Assistant – Provincial Military Command, said that he was surprised by the rapid spread of the competition. Units with a large number of entries include: Nam Dan, Nghi Loc, Dien Chau, Hung Nguyen, and Quynh Luu districts; the Department of Education and Training; and the Veterans Association… Most entries showed significant investment of time, effort, and intellect. Many entries demonstrated seriousness and meticulous effort in collecting valuable historical images and documents, with appropriate annotations and illustrations relevant to the questions and themes. Some entries were hundreds of pages of handwritten text, while others reached 1,500 pages of A4 paper.

Notable entries included those from the Youth Union branch of the Provincial Military School and the entry by Lieutenant Le Duc Tho, Political Assistant of the Vinh City Military Command. Ms. Phan Thi Thuy, a teacher from Truong Thi Primary School (Vinh City) and a third-place winner, said: "Many people have long believed that today's young generation is indifferent to history, but that's not the case. The competition has had a significant impact on all segments of the population. In particular, according to Ms. Thuy, the noble values ​​of life and the lessons of yesterday's history are still being recounted through the flesh-and-blood witnesses of many who experienced the two sacred wars of the nation in the 20th century. That is what gives history its vitality today."

In the preliminary round of the competition in Nghe An, the organizing committee selected 158 high-quality entries and awarded prizes to 22 winning teams and individuals. The first prize for a team was awarded to the Quynh Luu District Youth Union. The team from the Social Security Department Youth Union of the Provincial Police received the first prize. The team from the Thanh Chuong District Procuratorate Youth Union, Comrade Dang Doan An from the Nghi Loc District Military Command, and teacher Tran Thi Hong Van from Nam Son Primary School in Do Luong District were awarded the second prize. The organizing committee also awarded four third prizes and several consolation prizes. Notably, four entries from Nghe An were selected to participate in the competition at Military Region IV, and three of them won prizes. One first prize for a team was awarded to the Provincial Political School Youth Union, the third prize for an individual went to Lieutenant Le Duc Tho, Political Assistant at the Vinh City Military Command, and another entry received a consolation prize.

The competition has ended, but the imprint of the values ​​of national history and the Vietnam People's Army in the minds of generations of descendants today will remain forever. This is the spiritual foundation for the eternal existence of the Fatherland.

Dao Tuan