Nghe An veterans join the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic
(Baonghean.vn) - Having gone through the fierce bombs and bullets of war, the soldiers and Youth Volunteers of the past returned home to enjoy their old age. But with the outbreak of Covid-19, they once again joined the battle, hoping to contribute to bringing a peaceful life to their homeland.
Put the fun aside
Mid-June,Vinh CityWith the continuous emergence of many positive cases, the fight against the Covid-19 epidemic began. During the most stressful days, we visited the kitchen of Quang Trung Primary School (Vinh City), where the Arts Group of the Ward Veterans Association borrowed to set up a makeshift kitchen. The group has nearly 10 members, former Youth Volunteers and Veterans, who normally meet together to sing and enjoy their old age. When the epidemic broke out, everyone put aside their joy and joined forces with the people to fight the invisible enemy.
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Quang Trung Ward Veterans' Arts Group and the "Loving Vinh Porridge Pot" Club cook and provide food for the frontline forces fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Cong Kien |
At the age of 72, Ms. Nguyen Thi Dieu Lan still maintains her agility, her hands work tirelessly and participates in almost all processing stages. She shared: “I am from Ha Tinh city, when I was young I was a Youth Volunteeranti-American, once participated in the mission at Dong Loc T-junction, witnessed many comrades fall. Now retired, when the epidemic broke out, my sisters and I joined forces to cook and provide supplies for the frontline forces."
Having stood on the border between life and death, the former female Youth Volunteer Force realized the power of solidarity. In the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, the spirit and enthusiasm of her youth surged and urged her on. Although she could no longer be on the front line, Ms. Lan and her sisters tried to fulfill their roles as sisters and mothers in the rear.
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| Former Youth Volunteer Soldier Nguyen Thi Dieu Lan was moved when talking about her comrades who sacrificed their lives in the resistance war against the US to save the country. Photo: Cong Kien |
Former militiawoman Nguyen Thi Huong (born in 1952) is a native of Cua Hoi, who once held a gun to protect her homeland's land and sky. "In 1967 - 1968, when I was not yet 16 years old, I joined the militia company on duty in Phuc Tho commune. At that time, Cua Lo and Cua Hoi continuously suffered losses due to bombs and American gunboats. The enemy bombed day and night, but we still held our positions and fought back fiercely, making them not dare to take risks" - Ms. Huong recounted.
Ms. Huong is currently retired in Quang Trung ward and participates in the Arts Group of the Ward Veterans Association. When her hometown switched to a state of epidemic prevention and control, the former female militia once again rushed to join her sisters to take care of logistics.
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Former Youth Volunteer Soldier Nguyen Thi Dieu Lan participates in cooking to provide supplies for the anti-epidemic force. Photo: Cong Kien |
We also met Ms. Dao Canh Xuan (born in 1949), a woman from Luong who served in the war in the mountains of Quang Binh. Overcoming many hardships and dangers on the fierce battlefield, Ms. Xuan was able to return to her hometown and now lives in Block 3, Quang Trung Ward. As the Deputy Head of Logistics, she is always actively encouraging members to participate.anti-epidemic.
According to Ms. Xuan, no longer qualified to serve on the front lines, the soldiers of the anti-American era volunteered to cook and supply food for the “warriors” of today’s war. Her Arts Group proactively coordinated with the “Loving Vinh Porridge Pot” Club to raise funds and mobilize organizations and individuals to support funding, food, and provisions.
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The Quang Trung Ward Veterans' Arts Group and the "Loving Vinh Porridge Pot" Club give gifts to quarantine areas to prevent and control the epidemic. Photo: Cong Kien |
In the scorching heat, members of the Arts Group and the "Loving Vinh Porridge Pot" Club were still diligently preparing food and drinks. In the early days, they personally brought rice to quarantine checkpoints, quarantine areas and hospitals. During the time Vinh City was quarantined, the Group prepared 1,000 meals and 1,200 porridges to supply the front lines and support people in difficult circumstances. Their enthusiasm and kindness gave the soldiers strength to maintain their determination and belief in victory.
Charging into the "storm" of the epidemic
On the evening of June 13 and early morning of June 14, Vinh City recorded its first case of Covid-19 infection in Ha Huy Tap Ward. That same night, when the Ward's Steering Committee for Epidemic Prevention and Control finished consulting, Mr. Nguyen Tran Hien - ChairmanVeterans AssociationImmediately mobilize members to participate in the fight against the epidemic. Everyone was present in time, supporting the authorities to set up blockades, and calling on people to come to the area to take samples for testing.
“At that time, many people were confused, even panicked, but with the courage and calmness of those who had experienced the battlefield, they helped to calm the people's spirits. The veterans contributed effectively to maintaining order, guiding people to implement epidemic prevention measures, and were an important support for the Ward Steering Committee.”
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Members of the Veterans' Arts Group of Quang Trung Ward (Vinh City) support patients being treated at Nghe An Oncology Hospital. Photo: Cong Kien |
During the days when Ha Huy ward practiced isolation and lockdown, people often saw the "leader" of the Veterans Association always present at hot spots, rushing into difficult tasks. Along with Mr. Hien were the Branch Presidents and members present at dozens of checkpoints, delivering supplies to people in the lockdown areas; participating in patrols and reminding cases of violating quarantine regulations.
Many members are present inSupervisory teamCovid-19 community, "going to every alley, knocking on every door" to grasp the epidemic situation. Typically, Mr. Nguyen Vinh Dong in Yen Toan block is at a "rare" age but still works at the checkpoint every day, unloading goods, transporting food and provisions for supplies. Also at the age of 70, Colonel Le Duc Dong in block 14, regardless of the scorching sun and the scorching Lao wind, does not leave his duty of guarding the blockade at the apartment complex in the area.
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Many war veterans in Vinh City participate in duties at quarantine checkpoints. Photo: CSCC |
During the hot days both literally and figuratively, more than 100 war veterans of Ha Huy Tap ward "went to battle" with the mindset of once fighting to protect the country, now they still have the strength to join hands to fight the epidemic, contributing to preserving a peaceful life for their homeland.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Nga Son - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the Ward People's Council said: "In the work of preventing and fighting the Covid-19 epidemic, war veterans are an important force, supporting and working side by side with functional forces to carry out tasks. Their enthusiasm and passion have built trust among the people and once again affirmed the beauty of the image of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers".
Together with Ha Huy Tap ward, many war veterans in Vinh city and Nghe An province have joined the fierce battle, contributing to gradually controlling the spread of the disease.Covid-19 epidemic. Among them, many people were truly moved when reading the volunteer application of Mr. Nguyen Gia Thuy (born in 1958) in My Luong village, Thanh My commune (Thanh Chuong).
“I see that Party committees and authorities from the central to local levels, organizations in the political system and the entire population have taken drastic measures to prevent and control the risk of the epidemic spreading in the community... As a member of the Veterans Association with the traditional nature of "Uncle Ho's Soldier", I am submitting this application to the Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control of Thanh My commune, volunteering to join the blockade teams or institutes in the work of preventing and controlling the epidemic...".
Up to now, the Covid-19 epidemic has been basically controlled, Nghe An is gradually returning to a peaceful life. This is the common achievement of the cadres and people of the whole province, including the contributions of former Youth Volunteers, War Veterans, and those who have gone through the war but are still full of enthusiasm in the fight against the pandemic./.