Red flag on blue sea
In recent years, Cua Lo ward has built a movement to give national flags to fishermen going out to sea to exploit seafood. Going out to sea with national flags helps the fleets gain more spiritual strength, steady steering, attachment to the sea and join hands to protect the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.
The flag color signals good news.
Among the ships returning to shore these days, there are the fleets of Mr. Mai Thanh Toan in Doan Ket block and Mr. Nguyen Van Hong in Thanh Cong block (Cua Lo ward) that achieved a yield of more than 14 tons of fish, earning over 400 million VND. As soon as the ships docked, the leaders and the Farmers' Association of Cua Lo ward respectfully presented the national flags to the fishermen, congratulating them on the successful fishing trip.
The activity of giving national flags to fishermen has been implemented by Cua Lo ward for several years. Mr. Nguyen Tien Loi - an officer of the Farmers' Association of Cua Lo ward shared: In the past, when Cua Lo fishermen had a high catch, their boats often raised the national flag high to announce the good news from afar. From the shore, just by seeing the red flag with a yellow star flying on the bow of the boat, people knew for sure that the boat had "hit" a fish catch, and joy quickly spread throughout the fishing village. Since then, "raising the flag" has become a habit of people going to sea.
By 2015, the "Emulation Flag" awarding activity was officially implemented by the Farmers' Association of the old Nghi Thuy Ward (now merged into Cua Lo Ward), and in recent years has become a regular movement, associated with the Program "Farmers compete in production, good business, unite to help each other get rich and reduce poverty sustainably". Over many years of implementation, more than 100 boats have been awarded the emulation flag, of which many fishing boats have been awarded multiple times a year.
Mr. Tran Van Luu in Binh Minh block, one of the fishermen who has been awarded the national flag many times, shared: “Every time the ship docks and is awarded the national flag, I feel my heart filled with pride. Immediately, my fellow crew members and I hang the new flag on the bow of the ship for everyone to see. For me, it is not only the joy of my family, but also the common achievement of the whole fishing village. The flag is like a reminder for us to always have a steady hand at the helm, be united and persevere at sea.”
TAccording to statistics, the entire Cua Lo ward currently has about 250 ships and boats, with an average output of 19,000 tons of seafood per year, of which over 120 large-capacity ships regularly go out to sea for long periods. On average, each trip, each ship earns 300 - 400 million VND; after deducting expenses, fishermen still make a profit of over 100 million VND, helping people stabilize their lives.
Firm faith
The flags awarded and flown on each voyage are not only sacred symbols of the Fatherland, but also become a great source of encouragement, adding confidence and strength to fishermen in the middle of the ocean. During trips with big waves and strong winds, the image of the red flag with yellow star shining brightly in the middle of the ocean always reminds the crew to keep a steady hand on the wheel and unite to overcome challenges.
Fisherman Phung Ba Thu emotionally shared: “Going to sea is very difficult, sometimes the waves are big, the boat is rocking and seems about to capsize. At those times, looking up at the bow of the boat and seeing the national flag fluttering, we remind each other to be resilient and overcome the waves together. For me, the national flag not only instills confidence, but also reminds me of my homeland, family and the sacred responsibility to protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands. Now that the government has given me a new flag as soon as the boat docks, I feel even more proud and more determined to stay at sea for a long time.”
Talking to reporters, Mr. Cao Minh Tu - Chairman of the People's Committee of Cua Lo Ward affirmed: Each national flag is not only a spiritual reward, but also a message: The Government always accompanies fishermen. Each ship raising the red flag with yellow star is a "living milestone", contributing to affirming the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland. In the coming time, the ward will replicate the model, not only awarding flags to ships with high productivity but also to exemplary collectives and individuals who comply with regulations and bravely rescue at sea."
In fact, the event of awarding the "Emulation Flag" is not only meant to encourage, but also an opportunity for the government to get closer and more connected with fishermen. Through these meetings, local authorities can listen to their thoughts, share their difficulties, and then find ways to solve them, in line with the spirit of "respecting the people, being close to the people, understanding the people, learning from the people and being responsible to the people" that the locality always strives for.
It is known that in the coming time, in addition to presenting the national flag, Cua Lo ward will continue to carry out many practical activities such as propagating laws and policies on fisheries exploitation, organizing training courses to improve health, providing free medical examinations, giving life jackets, life buoys, flashlights, raincoats, essential medicines, etc. The gifts, although simple, are safe luggage, giving strength to fishermen on each trip out to sea.
On the occasion of Independence Day, when thousands of red flags with yellow stars light up the harbor and flutter on ships, the values of independence, freedom and territorial integrity are further ingrained, becoming the driving force urging fishermen to stand firm at the forefront.