Tears welled up in my eyes on the day they returned...
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| Memorial service for fallen soldiers. |
The day the soldiers returned to their hometowns coincided with July, the month when the entire nation and people were commemorating the Day of War Invalids and Martyrs with profound gratitude. It was deeply moving to see people from remote villages such as Loc, Phiet, and Muong Phu in the border commune of Thong Thu hiring motorbikes or walking to Kim Son town from the previous afternoon, eagerly awaiting the moment the repatriation team would return. Mr. Lo Thanh Chuyen, from Loc village, Thong Thu commune, who enlisted on the same day as martyr Vi Van Hoc, quietly searched for his old soldier's uniform to wear for this sacred moment. His frail figure disappeared behind the sunlight. He found a secluded spot and silently wept behind the monument. He cried beside the remains before the ceremony, his faded handkerchief soaked with sweat and tears. His voice choked as he called out to his comrades: "Hoc, it's Lo Thanh Chuyen from Loc village!" Mr. Vi Van Tien, the nephew of martyr Vi Van Hoc, upon hearing the news that his uncle's remains would arrive at the cemetery, immediately hired a motorbike taxi to travel there overnight. He said: "More than 30 people from Thong Thu commune came here to receive the remains of their hometown's son, led by Mr. Luong Van Xuyen - Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune. Some members of the delegation traveled by motorbike taxi, while the rest walked." Along with the emotion of the people of Thong Thu commune, relatives, comrades, and fellow soldiers from Que Son, Muong Ngoc, and Chau Kim communes also could not hide their joy as four martyrs from these three communes also returned to their beloved homeland after more than 30 years of resting in the distant slopes of Tay Ninh. Ms. Ngan Thi Kim, from Na Cong village, Que Son commune, the older sister of martyr Ngan Van Thanh, who died in 1975, wiped away tears and said, "Since the day we heard the news of my brother's death, our family has longed to bring him back home, but due to difficult circumstances, we couldn't. Now that the district has brought him back, our family is overjoyed and deeply fulfilled."
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Teachers and students of Kim Son Town Secondary School - Que Phong district light incense to commemorate the martyrs. |
As a mountainous district facing extreme difficulties and with treacherous transportation, and with over 50% of its population living below the poverty line, very few families have the economic means to search for the remains of their loved ones. Understanding this, the leaders of Que Phong district consider the search for and collection of the remains of fallen soldiers, bringing them back to their hometowns, as a crucial political task and an act of gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives. During the two wars against France and the United States, 176 sons and daughters of Que Phong district sacrificed their lives, but the number of remains found remains very rare. The seven fallen soldiers whose remains were recovered this time are the result of a persistent search led by Deputy Chairman of the District People's Committee Lu Dinh Thi and 14 other colleagues who traveled extensively through cemeteries throughout Tay Ninh province. After nearly 1,500 kilometers, the seven remains were found at Tan Bien district cemetery in Tay Ninh, 150 km from Ho Chi Minh City and just 2 km from the Samat border crossing in Cambodia.
Despite the scorching sun, relatives and fellow villagers lingered beside the soldiers, telling them about the changes in their villages and homeland. Tears of happiness streamed down their cheeks...
Thu Huong - My Ha
