July in the sacred land...
(Baonghean.vn) - As a land rich in patriotic and revolutionary traditions, the homeland of heroic martyrs, and the resting place of countless people who fell for the cause of national liberation, Nghe An becomes a pilgrimage destination for people and tourists from all over the country during the month of July.
A symbol of indomitable spirit.
During these days of July, crowds of people flock to historical sites and martyrs' cemeteries.The crowds grew larger as people came to express their gratitude to those who sacrificed for independence and peace. Traveling back and forth along National Highway 46 through Hung Nguyen town (Hung Nguyen district), many groups of visitors entered the Memorial Area for Soviet Martyrs of Nghe Tinh to offer incense to those who fell more than 90 years ago.
After standing silently before the common grave of the martyrs, Mr. Nguyen Minh Hai from Ben Thuy ward (Vinh City) told his children: “More than 93 years ago, during the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement, this place witnessed a demonstration by thousands of farmers demanding that the French colonialists and their feudal collaborators reduce taxes and levies. The French bombed the demonstration, killing 217 and injuring 125, but they could not break the fighting spirit of the revolutionary masses. The memorial site has become a symbol of the indomitable and resilient fighting spirit of our people.”
According to Mr. Hai, every July he and his children organize pilgrimages to historical sites and cemeteries to offer incense to fallen soldiers. This year, after offering incense at the Vinh City cemetery, he and his children went up to Hung Nguyen to pay tribute to the Soviet-era martyrs of Nghe Tinh, thereby helping his children understand their historical roots and homeland.
We turned onto National Highway 15A, a busy road heading towards the Truông Bồn National Historical Site in Mỹ Sơn commune (Đô Lương district). This area is filled with the green of mountains, hills, and gardens, softening the harsh summer sun. In July, Truông Bồn becomes a "meeting point" for tribute journeys, as people from all regions return here to offer flowers and incense in remembrance of the heroes and martyrs who fell to achieve victory.
“I knew about Truong Bon through books and newspapers, but only today did I have the opportunity to visit and light incense for the brothers and sisters who lie buried here. Stepping foot here, my heart was suddenly filled with emotion at the sacrifices of the young volunteers who fought and died in this ‘fire zone,’ contributing to the immortal epic.”
Having served on Route 15A during the fierce years of war, former Youth Volunteer Corps member Nguyen Thi Thuy, from Dien Chau, makes time every year to offer incense to her fallen comrades. For her, returning to Truong Bon is like returning to the old battlefield, where her youth was spent amidst the intense bombing and shelling. “Coming to Truong Bon brings back memories of my youth, making the longing for my comrades unbearable. Therefore, as long as I have the strength, I return here on the anniversary of the War Invalids and Martyrs Day so that my heart can always find peace,” Ms. Thuy confided.
“During the month of July, despite the harsh weather, the number of visitors to Truong Bon increased dramatically, reaching thousands on some days. Some groups of visitors from distant provinces, visiting Truong Bon for the first time, were moved to tears by the scenery and the explanations about the sacrifices of the heroic martyrs…”
These are "sacred places"
Leaving Truong Bon, we followed National Highway 7A to Anh Son town, home to the Vietnam-Laos Martyrs' Cemetery. This is the resting place of nearly 11,000 martyrs, mostly Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who died on the battlefields of Laos. These days, the Vietnam-Laos Martyrs' Cemetery welcomes many delegations from within the province and across the country who come to lay flowers and offer incense. Among them are delegations from agencies, departments, and organizations paying tribute to the martyrs; groups of veterans offering incense to their comrades; and many relatives visiting their loved ones resting here.
A group of young people walked along the rows of graves, their eyes fixed on the tombstones inscribed with the names of fallen soldiers. Nguyen Hoang Khanh, a member of the group, said: “We are from Vinh City and surrounding districts, university students returning home for summer vacation. Today, we came together to visit the Vietnam-Laos Martyrs Cemetery to better understand this sacred place of our homeland. Coming here, everyone is truly moved by the sight of thousands of gravestones, many of which are unnamed, and from that, we understand more about the pain and the price of independent and peaceful life.”
Here, we met Ms. Ha Thi Thu, from Thanh Hoa province. Through our conversation, we learned that her father fought and died on the battlefield in Laos. After researching information about the repatriation of remains, it's highly likely that her father's remains have been relocated to the Vietnam-Laos Martyrs' Cemetery. The family has searched but hasn't found them yet. It's possible that her father's grave is one of thousands of unmarked graves…
Along with martyrs' cemeteries, historical sites and memorials dedicated to revolutionary pioneers such as Le Hong Phong (Hung Nguyen), Nguyen Thi Minh Khai (Vinh City), Phan Dang Luu (Yen Thanh)... also become destinations for many organizations and individuals during the month of July. This demonstrates the national tradition of "drinking water, remembering the source," commemorating and remembering the contributions of those who sacrificed for the peaceful and independent life we enjoy today.
