The old couple has been diligently sweeping trash for the neighborhood for 20 years.
(Baonghean.vn) - For more than 20 years now, every morning when people in Ngoc Lam hamlet, Nghia Loi commune, Nghia Dan district wake up, they find the alleys they pass by clean as if by magic. However, that miracle comes from the hearts of Mr. Nguyen Van Tu, 87 years old, and his wife, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Lan, 85 years old.
For over 20 years now, on sunny days as well as rainy days, from early morning, the couple gets up to exercise, eat breakfast, then quietly, she holds a broom, he pushes a cart, and goes to sweep along the houses in the neighborhood. At first, many people thought that Mr. Tu and his wife were paid fairly, so they were so enthusiastic. Because, without compensation, why work so hard, day and night like that. All the gossip ofThe locals and he and his wife ignored it, because “they couldn’t bear not sweeping the trash”, so rain or shine, day or night, they still went to every corner to sweep the trash.
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The image and beautification of Mr. Tu and his wife have spread throughout the community. Photo: Minh Thai |
Mr. Nguyen Van Tu, Ngoc Lam hamlet, Nghia Loi commune shared: “Implementing the new rural construction program, including building green, clean, and beautiful village roads and alleys. My husband and I discussed taking some time off to rest and serve people so that they can travel cleanly.”
Like Mr. Tu, under the scorching sun, drenched in sweat, without anyone telling her or paying her, Mrs. Lan still swept the trash, smiling happily: "I haven't finished this morning, I'll continue this afternoon." After finishing sweeping, they gathered it in one spot and burned it. Just like that, for the past 20 years, wherever Mr. and Mrs. Tu went, the village streets and alleys were clean and beautiful.
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For over 20 years now, on sunny days as well as rainy days, from early morning she holds a broom and he pushes a cart, sweeping along the streets in the neighborhood. Photo: Minh Thai |
The image and the beautification of Mr. Tu and his wife have spread and touched people's hearts, not only making all the people in the village, in the commune but also in the neighboring areas. When knowing and hearing about the example of Mr. and Mrs. Tu "setting a good example" at an old age, many people admire him more, and from there are more aware of joining hands to protect the environment in the residential area, not littering, and every alley is swept every day. This is also a small act that contributes to helping Nghia Loi commune soon complete the environmental criteria to reach the finish line.new rural areasin 2021.
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Seeing the grandparents' meaningful work, every Saturday, families in the neighborhood join hands to clean up the village roads and alleys, creating a widespread movement. Photo: Minh Thai |
Mr. Nguyen Dinh Nham, a resident of Ngoc Lam hamlet, Nghia Loi commune, said: "Mr. Tu's family is the most typical example of the hamlet, and also the most typical of the elderly association in environmental sanitation work, village roads and alleys."
Not afraid of difficulties, hardships, and responsibility for the community, recently Mr. and Mrs. Nguyen Van Tu and Nguyen Ngoc Lan have been recognized by all levels and sectors from district to commune in implementing the example of "Studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality, and style" in the period of 2016 - 2018 and the movement of the elderly being good examples.
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They want to contribute their small part to protecting a green, clean and beautiful living environment. Photo: Minh Thai |
Mr. Vo Quang Hoa, Vice Chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee of Nghia Dan district added: “In order to effectively implement the movement to build new rural areas and civilized urban areas, especially the issue of rural environmental treatment, in recent years the district has mobilized the entire population to actively respond and join hands to build green, clean and beautiful village roads and alleys. Particularly typical in Ngoc Lam hamlet, Nghia Loi commune, there are Mr. Tu and Mrs. Lan, who are old but very exemplary in voluntarily protecting the environment. From their specific actions, they have spread, contributing a small part of each individual in the cause of building new rural areas”.
The small, seemingly normal but not everyone can do work of Mr. Nguyen Van Tu and his wife is worth each of us pondering to reflect on ourselves, raising awareness of environmental hygiene./.