President Ho Chi Minh's heart for war invalids, sick soldiers, martyrs' families and people with meritorious services

After the success of the August Revolution, the country was in a precarious situation. Although he was busy with a thousand things, President Ho Chi Minh always thought of the merits of the wounded and martyrs.

In the “Announcement on the adoption of martyrs’ children”, he wrote: “On behalf of the Fatherland, all compatriots and the Government, I would like to thank the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the Freedom, Independence and Unification of the country, either during the revolutionary period or during the resistance period. I send my warm greetings to the families of those martyrs, and I adopt the martyrs’ children as my own”, showing the special concern and noble compassion of President Ho Chi Minh towards the families of martyrs.

To have a regime for war invalids and martyrs on February 16, 1947, President Ho Chi Minh signed Decree No. 20/SL regulating pensions, disability and death benefits for war invalids. This is considered the first legal document on regimes and policies for war invalids and martyrs' relatives. At the same time, it demonstrates the love and wholehearted care of the Party, State and Uncle Ho for war invalids, sick soldiers and martyrs' families.

On July 17, 1947, President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter to the Standing Committee of the Organizing Committee of the “National War Invalids Day”. He wrote: “War invalids are those who have sacrificed their families and blood to protect the Fatherland and protect their compatriots. For the benefit of the Fatherland and their compatriots, you have suffered illness and disability. Therefore, the Fatherland and our compatriots must be grateful and must help these brave sons…”. At the same time, he mobilized people to share food and clothes to help war invalids. To set an example, he did it first: sending a month’s salary, money for a meal, a silk bra given to him by women… to war invalids and sick soldiers.

In particular, to acknowledge the great sacrifices of compatriots and soldiers nationwide; at the same time, to express the deep affection and gratitude of the People towards those who did not spare their blood and bones, dedicating themselves to the Fatherland, in June 1947, President Ho Chi Minh issued a Directive to choose one day of the year as National War Invalids Day. Implementing his directive, the Preparatory Conference consisting of representatives of agencies and sectors at the Central, regional and provincial levels met in Dai Tu, Thai Nguyen and unanimously agreed to choose July 27, 1947 as "National War Invalids Day". In July 1955, "National War Invalids Day" was changed to "War Invalids and Martyrs Day".

Since then, every year on July 27, he always sent letters of concern and encouragement to war invalids, families of martyrs, nursing units and officers in charge to remind them to take good care of war invalids and families of martyrs. Along with the words of concern and spiritual encouragement were material gifts, sometimes a shirt, sometimes a scarf... In particular, Uncle Ho often sent his entire month's salary on this occasion to war invalids and families of martyrs. His sincere letters and simple gifts were a priceless source of spiritual encouragement, encouraging and giving more strength to war invalids and families of martyrs.

Despite his busy work, President Ho Chi Minh always took time to care for, visit, and encourage the wounded soldiers in nursing homes, the families of martyrs, or to welcome people at his residence and workplace. In July 1952, Uncle Ho visited the nursing home for wounded soldiers in Hanoi. That day, it was hot, when he visited the seriously wounded soldiers who had to lie motionless, Uncle Ho held a paper fan to fan them while asking them questions. On the way back, Uncle Ho was very moved. When the air conditioner that the comrades from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent to Uncle Ho, at that time, Uncle Ho was staying in the house of an electrician in the Governor-General's Palace, the low ceiling was very hot at noon but Uncle Ho did not use it. He told comrade Vu Ky: "That air conditioner is good, you can bring it to the military hospital or the nursing home for wounded soldiers. The other day when I visited, I saw that they were very hot. As for me, I don't need it yet, I'm fine with this."

On New Year's Eve 1956 (February 11, 1956), Uncle Ho visited the Hanoi School for Disabled War Veterans. He asked about their health and life and wished them a happy new year. Then he advised: "With this School for Disabled War Veterans, you can learn to read and write, learn a trade to continue serving the people, so that you are "disabled but not useless", you can study and work according to your strength. You must finish grade 7, then join any job you like". His words of encouragement have become a slogan for action, a motto for life of the disabled comrades. That is the sincere sentiment and deep concern of President Ho Chi Minh for those who left a part of their blood and bones to protect the independence of the Fatherland.

Besides, he always reminded the Party, the State and the People to take care of war invalids and martyrs’ families, considering it a responsibility and an obligation, not a “good deed” and “our duty is to be grateful, to love and help them”. At the same time, we must repay them properly: “War invalids have sacrificed part of their blood and bones to preserve the Fatherland, protect our compatriots, have been loyal to the country, and filial to the people. They have fulfilled their duties, they have not asked for anything. But for those loyal and filial children, how should the Government and our compatriots repay them properly?”

Recognizing and expressing gratitude for the great sacrifices of war invalids and martyrs for the nation and people, at the ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Party's founding (January 5, 1960), President Ho Chi Minh affirmed: "The blood of those martyrs has made the revolutionary flag even more brilliant. The heroic sacrifice of the martyrs has prepared for our country to blossom with independence and freedom. Our people will forever remember the merits of the martyrs and we must always learn from the brave spirit of the martyrs to overcome all difficulties and hardships, and complete the revolutionary cause that the martyrs have passed on to us."

President Ho Chi Minh's gratitude to war invalids and martyrs is boundless. Before passing away, Uncle Ho always kept in mind the need to repay war invalids, sick soldiers and families of martyrs. In his historic Testament, he did not forget to advise:

“For those who have bravely sacrificed a part of their blood and bones (cadres, soldiers, militia, guerrillas, youth volunteers...), the Party, the Government and the people must find every way to provide them with a stable place to eat and live, and at the same time must open vocational training classes suitable for each person so that they can gradually become “self-reliant”. For martyrs, each locality (city, village) needs to build a flower garden and a memorial stele to record the heroic sacrifice of the martyrs, to forever educate the spirit of patriotism in our people. For parents, wives and children (of war invalids and martyrs) who lack the ability to work and are in need, the local government (if in the countryside, the commune government and agricultural cooperatives) must help them find suitable jobs, absolutely not letting them go hungry or cold”.

Thus, it can be seen that the morality of “When drinking water, remember its source” in Ho Chi Minh’s ideology and morality has continued the noble humanistic tradition of the Vietnamese people. That tradition is being continued to be well implemented by our Party, State and People, in order to fuel the flame of solidarity and patriotism in the generations of Lac Hong descendants, to build a prosperous and sustainably developed Vietnam.