(Baonghean.vn) - War Invalids and Martyrs Day, July 27, is an occasion to pay tribute to and remember those who sacrificed their lives to protect the Fatherland. Visiting martyrs' cemeteries these days, it is not difficult to come across images and touching stories about family love, comradeship...
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| The war is over, but the pain it left behind still tears at the hearts of those lucky enough to survive the two periods of resistance against foreign invaders, especially during this July. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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| Amidst the smoke of incense at the Vietnam - Laos International Cemetery in Anh Son, veteran Truong Quang Lieu (Nghi Xuan Commune, Nghi Loc, Nghe An) tearfully lit a cigarette and placed it in the incense burner, pouring a cup of strong wine to invite his comrade who he had buried with his own hands on the battlefield. After many years, Mr. Lieu was finally able to find and visit his comrade who is now lying with nearly 11,000 heroic martyrs at the Vietnam - Laos International Cemetery. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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| Traveling more than 500km from Phu Loc commune, Phu Ninh district, Phu Tho province, Ms. Nguyen Khanh Minh (1947) and her family came to burn incense for her brother, martyr Nguyen Duc Thong (1945). Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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| Tears finally filled the eyes of the 70-year-old woman when her family found the grave of martyr Thong. Ms. Minh recalled that in July 2016, her family received news that her brother's remains had been gathered at the Vietnam - Laos International Cemetery. "The only regret is that my deceased mother's wish to bring my brother back to his father and ancestors has not been fulfilled yet." Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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| "Let me take you to visit your brother!" - that was what the two-colored-haired son said as he took his mother to visit his brother who was lying at the Nghi Loc District Martyrs' Cemetery among the 997 martyrs resting there. Every year, in July, the mother and son visit their brother who died in the resistance war against America. Photo: Chu Thanh |
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| Among those who sacrificed, some have found their identities, but there are still tens of thousands of nameless graves, tens of thousands of martyrs still lying somewhere on the old battlefield. Seeing the words "Unknown martyrs" in cemeteries makes many people feel heartbroken. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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| Looking at the veterans visiting their fallen comrades, lighting incense sticks for their nameless comrades, suddenly the poem engraved at the Vietnam - Laos International Cemetery appeared in their minds: "Please don't call me an unknown martyr/ I used to have a name like many other faces/ The Fatherland has not lost my name/ It just silently accepts me..." Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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| The soldiers who fell for the peace of the nation, some have not found their identities yet, but they live forever in the hearts of their loved ones, the comrades who fought side by side.... Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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| ... and the younger generations are trying to follow their predecessors in building the Fatherland. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
Chu Thanh - Thanh Cuong
