Morality and compassion
To achieve the great victories of our nation in the wars of national liberation as well as in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland, the blood of millions of Vietnamese people had to be shed, and millions more suffered lifelong injuries or the cruel aftereffects of war.
Showing gratitude and repaying the kindness of those who sacrificed for independence, freedom, and the territorial integrity of the Fatherland is a moral principle, a sentiment, and a precious cultural tradition of the Vietnamese people.
For nearly 80 years of rebuilding the nation, millions of Vietnamese sons and daughters have fallen under bombs and bullets, sacrificing their youth and blood for the revolution, for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, and for the happiness of the people. Their blood has stained the national flag, forging the spiritual strength and the fierce aspiration of a nation that refuses to be enslaved or impoverished.
Remembering and honoring those who sacrificed for the country and its people is an act that reflects the principle of "drinking water, remembering the source," a noble and sacred sentiment of the Vietnamese people. Amidst the many complexities of the early years of the resistance war against French colonialism, on February 16, 1947, President Ho Chi Minh signed Decree No. 20/SL "Regulations on pensions, disability benefits, and death benefits for fallen soldiers"—the first legal document affirming the important position of the work related to wounded soldiers and martyrs, and the concern of the Party and State for wounded soldiers, sick soldiers, and the families of martyrs.
The person who issued the directive chose July 27th each year as the Day of War Invalids and Martyrs to..."Our compatriots show their filial piety, compassion, and love for the wounded soldiers!"
Therefore, the Day of War Invalids and Martyrs (July 27th) is an occasion for us to honor and express our boundless gratitude to the heroes, martyrs, comrades, and fellow citizens who sacrificed their lives and blood for our beloved Vietnam, for the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation. It is also an opportunity to educate future generations about the national moral principle of "Remembering the person who planted the tree when you eat the fruit," so that present and future generations know that a society cannot develop sustainably and healthily without gratitude to those who shed sweat and blood to build and protect it.
For the past 78 years, fulfilling President Ho Chi Minh's wishes, the Party and State of Vietnam have always paid attention to leading and directing the effective implementation of policies and guidelines for wounded soldiers, families of martyrs, and those who have made contributions to the revolution. The "Gratitude and Repayment" movement has become a beautiful aspect of the national cultural life, and is developing extensively with many rich forms such as: donating houses of gratitude; gardens of gratitude; silk shirts for grandmothers; warm clothes for mothers; helping and caring for severely wounded and sick soldiers, elderly and lonely parents of martyrs; sponsoring children of martyrs; and providing care for Heroic Vietnamese Mothers…
The activities of showing gratitude and appreciation have maximized the combined strength of the community, contributing to the stability and improvement of the material and spiritual lives of wounded soldiers, families of martyrs, and people with meritorious contributions to the revolution. As a result, to date, more than 98.6% of policy beneficiary families have a living standard equal to or higher than the average living standard of the local people in their place of residence.
"Showing gratitude and repaying kindness is not only a major policy of the Party and the State, but also a command from the heart, a political responsibility, and a moral obligation of the entire political system and society," General Secretary To Lam affirmed at a meeting to honor 250 delegates representing more than 9.2 million people who have rendered meritorious services nationwide on the morning of July 24th. This includes 1.2 million martyrs, over 139,000 Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, over 1,300 Heroes of the Armed Forces and Labor Heroes, and nearly 800,000 wounded and sick soldiers... They are the immortal souls of the nation, the most beautiful symbol of Vietnamese revolutionary heroism.
During these days of July, many meaningful activities are organized throughout the country, expressing gratitude to millions of martyrs – outstanding sons and daughters who bravely fought and sacrificed themselves for the nation. Young men and women in their late teens and early twenties set aside their dreams and aspirations to fulfill their sacred duty, for the cause of building and protecting the Fatherland, for the peace and happiness of the people.
We are grateful to the countless people who have forever rested in the embrace of Mother Earth; grateful to the wounded soldiers who left a part of their bodies on battlefields from North to South; we share the hardships and struggles of veterans grappling with the lingering effects of war; with the constant pain of their wounds; and the weary, anxious gazes of loved ones who have yet to find or locate the graves of their children, siblings, spouses, parents…
Over 9.2 million people who rendered meritorious services to the nation have benefited from preferential policies and benefits. The material and spiritual lives of these individuals and their families have improved, with most receiving stable housing assistance; over 3,000 cemeteries and 4,000 memorials for martyrs nationwide have been invested in, built, and renovated to be more dignified, always serving as places of return for martyrs who sacrificed their lives on battlefields across the country and in international missions in Laos and Cambodia. The Truong Son National Cemetery, the Highway 9 Martyrs Cemetery (Quang Tri), and the Vietnam-Laos International Martyrs Cemetery (Nghe An) annually welcome many sons and daughters who died in foreign lands back to their homeland; the work of identifying martyrs with incomplete information, especially with the support of DNA testing technology, has achieved positive initial results.
However, the fact that 200,000 remains of fallen soldiers remain uncollected, and nearly 300,000 remains unidentified, is a source of deep concern and worry for today's generation regarding their ancestors. With immense responsibility and profound gratitude, the Party, the State, and the people of Vietnam pledge to continue these meaningful and ethical actions, contributing to alleviating pain, absorbing tears, and lessening the longing; so that the material and spiritual lives of those who have made sacrifices for the nation may become increasingly better.
Fresh flowers, fragrant incense, and the shimmering lights from cemeteries during the candlelight vigil are amplifying the sacred meaning of July – the peak month for acts of gratitude and remembrance, embodying the principle of "drinking water and remembering the source." This helps those who live in peace and happiness today understand that the nation's strong development is the most practical and meaningful expression of gratitude.
For millions of Vietnamese people have bravely fought and voluntarily laid down their lives for peace in the country, what greater aspiration could there be than the aspiration for a free and independent Vietnam; for the Vietnamese people to be happy and prosperous!