May gift for Uncle Ho

(Baonghean) - These days, all roads to Sen Village (Kim Lien, Nam Dan) are red with flags and flowers and thousands of sincere hearts are turned towards Him. Celebrating Uncle Ho's birthday, children from all over the country have made efforts to achieve many achievements in studying, working, producing... These are meaningful gifts to offer to him on the occasion of his 126th birthday...

A corner of the new rural area of ​​Kim Lien commune (Nam Dan). Photo: Sy Minh.

In May, the sky of Nam Dan is vast and blue. Pilgrims from all over the world come to Kim Lien to pay their respects to Uncle Ho. From Cao Lanh city, a group of veterans in formal uniforms, with medals and badges of war on their chests, visit Uncle Ho's hometown early in the morning. Veteran Nguyen Tat Quyet, 62 years old this year, is the leader of the group of veterans. He holds a bright yellow chrysanthemum in his hand and carefully adjusts his clothes before entering to offer flowers to the altar of Uncle Ho.

Leaving his legs behind on the fierce battlefield during the resistance war against the US to save the country, the veteran moved with difficulty on a wheelchair, but the journey of nearly a thousand kilometers did not seem to diminish his desire to return to Sen Village - the sacred homeland of the nation. "In recent years, my health has been much weaker.

A piece of cluster bomb is still near my rib cage, and it hurts a lot when the weather changes. I think, this year is Uncle Ho's birthday, I must be determined to visit his hometown once to fulfill my long-standing wish. If I keep making excuses about the distance, health... if I suddenly pass away, I will still have lingering unfulfilled wishes" - Veteran Nguyen Tat Quyet shared.

Pilgrimage to Uncle Ho's hometown, with a heart of sincere gratitude, each person holds in their heart beautiful "flowers" to offer Him, those are "feats" in peacetime, which may be very small and simple but are infinitely precious.

During the festival in the common homeland, we met a very special group of tourists - the extended family of Mrs. Dang Thi Lien (84 years old) from the rice fields of Thai Binh. The 50-seat inter-provincial passenger bus was rented separately, serving the extended family of nearly 30 people, elder Dang Thi Lien acted as the group leader, "navigator" Dang Van Thanh - a former North-South passenger bus driver quickly scheduled the travel, accommodation, followed by dozens of brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, in-laws, children and grandchildren...

Busily arranging and registering for tour guides, Mr. Dang Van Thanh shared: “The plan for the whole family to visit Uncle Ho's hometown and travel to some attractive places in Nghe An was agreed upon about a year ago, but we have just agreed on the time this time.

Students of Kim Lien Secondary School (Nam Dan) and art troupes from across the country participated in the procession carrying Uncle Ho's portrait at the 2015 Sen Village Festival. Photo: Tran Hai

Nearly half of the group are brothers, sisters, uncles, and children living abroad in Russia, Thailand, etc. They are arranging their work to return home in mid-May. The most difficult part is that there are nearly 10 people working at government agencies in Thai Binh, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, etc. They have to try very hard to arrange a leave. Due to the remote conditions, this is the first time our extended family has visited Uncle Ho's hometown."

Mr. Thanh added that in the summer in Vietnam there are many beautiful tourist and resort destinations, but the extended family still chose to visit Uncle Ho's hometown, because this is a meaningful pilgrimage. Mr. Dang Van Thanh's father was a martyr and many family members are war veterans, former youth volunteers, soldiers, and some children are studying at military and defense academies. In the localities where they live, they always remember the good traditions of generations of soldiers, becoming exemplary citizens.

The extended family has 2 doctors, 5 masters, many university and college graduates, skilled workers and professional soldiers in various units. In front of the simple thatched roof house, listening to the stories of the boy Nguyen Sinh Cung's childhood told by the tour guide, they could not hold back their emotions. For them, the memories of visiting Uncle Ho's hometown will be unforgettable.

With the awareness that Kim Lien is a common homeland, a place that anchors traditional and humanistic values, the government and people of Kim Lien have been taking very practical actions to achieve achievements, offering Him innovations in construction and beautiful and rich construction.

From Sen Village, walking with us on the new rural roads spreading out like an arc, embracing the ripe rice fields, Mr. Tran Quang Loc - Vice Chairman of Kim Lien Commune People's Committee could not hide his pride in the land and people of Uncle Ho's homeland. That the commune has met the new rural standards since 2014, the electricity - road - school - station system is basically standardized. Now, entering the stage of building a model new rural area, Kim Lien commune focuses on expanding traffic routes and investing in the construction of civil works.

What is special is that most of the residents living in the commune are descendants born and raised on the land of their ancestors, imbued with the source of patriotism, revolution and the humanistic flow of the sacred land and talented people, so each person has the awareness to protect and enhance the beauty of their homeland through small actions.

Every Kim Lien resident can play the role of tour guide and tour guide skillfully and delicately. And they, the farmers with muddy feet and hands in the summer fields, can suddenly transform into folk artists with captivating Vi and Giam melodies. The harmony between material and spiritual life creates a simple yet charming beauty, making the journey to Uncle Ho's hometown of each tourist more beautiful.

On the occasion of Uncle Ho's birthday, in the fields, workshops, factories, offices... the sound of singing and singing dedicated to the Party and Uncle Ho resounded loudly. How could we not be happy and proud when in 2015, 9 communes of Nam Dan district reached the new rural area in a "spectacular" way. The reason for saying so is because some localities such as Nam Nghia, Nam Giang, Nam Cat, Nam Trung... had a low starting point, but with efforts and determination, the new rural criteria were gradually achieved and exceeded. Notably, in early March 2016, Nam Thuong commune became the 10th commune out of 23 communes of Nam Dan district to reach the new rural area.

That "feat" is not outstanding compared to many other localities in the province and the whole country, but for the people of Nam Dan, it is the most beautiful flower offered to Him, and the meaning is multiplied many times during the time of commemorating Uncle Ho's birthday.

Phuoc Anh