Restoring Uncle Ho's Statue with the armed forces of Military Region 4

This is a cultural work symbolizing Uncle Ho's special affection for the armed forces of Military Region 4 as well as the infinite respect and gratitude of the officers, soldiers and armed forces of Military Region 4 to President Ho Chi Minh.

Lieutenant Colonel Tran Ngoc Quang - DirectorMuseum of Military Region 4It is said that on June 15, 1957, Uncle Ho returned to his hometown for the first time and visited and talked with officers and soldiers of Military Region 4. In 1978, to remember this special event, BTLMilitary Region 4 built the Monument "Uncle Ho with the armed forces of Military Region 4" using concrete and steel materials based on the design of Painter, Sculptor, Colonel Tran Thanh Tam (former Director of the Museum of Military Region 4).

Pupilreporting achievements at Uncle Ho's Statue in Military Region 4 Museum.Nh: Ngoc Thang

After many times of restoration to become a unique historical and cultural military complex, in 2013, "The memorial site of Uncle Ho's visit to Military Region 4 in Nghe An on June 15, 1957" was recognized by the People's Committee of Nghe An province as a provincial historical and cultural relic.

"Although it has been painted and repaired many times, after more than 40 years of construction, the monument has deteriorated, making maintenance and restoration difficult. To show respect and affection for President Ho Chi Minh, many organizations, individuals, businesses and officers and soldiers in the Military Region's armed forces, with great responsibility, have donated and supported funding to carry out this project," said Lieutenant Colonel Tran Ngoc Quang - Director of the Military Region 4 Museum.

According to the design, the statue is made of red bronze, 4.9m high; the statue base is 3m high and made of monolithic green stone; and weighs about 2,500 kg. The project has started construction and is expected to be inaugurated on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Uncle Ho's visit to the Military Region's Armed Forces and his second visit to his hometown (December 9, 1961 - December 9, 2021).

Upon receiving the letter from the Military Region Command informing about the policy of upgrading and renovating the material of Uncle Ho's statue, with affection and responsibility for the homeland, fulfilling the wishes of the deceased father, the brothers and children of Mr. Tran Thanh Vinh's family (son of Colonel Tran Thanh Tam) contributed 30 million VND to build the monument.

Uncle Ho's statue at the Military Region 4 Museum.Nh: Ngoc Thang

We connected by phone with Mr. Vinh, from Ho Chi Minh City, he happily shared: "When I learned about the policy of the Military Region Command to restore and replace the monument with bronze, I discussed it with my family members, everyone was very excited and fully supported it; this is a necessary work to upgrade a special heritage, associated with a very special historical event, worthy of the tradition of revolutionary struggle and the development of the Military Region's Armed Forces as well as Nghe An province".

Sharing the joy with Mr. Tran Thanh Vinh, Colonel Nguyen Cong Thanh - former Director of the Museum of Military Region 4 (from 1999 to 2018) excitedly said: I am very happy and pleased to hear that Uncle Ho's Statue has been upgraded because it meets the expectations of many generations of officers and soldiers of the Military Region's armed forces. The completed project will create harmony with the relic complex; it is an important basis for proposing to upgrade the National Historical Relic.

Major Nguyen Huu Hoanh - an officer of the Military Region 4 Museum introduces weapons used in the resistance war against the French made from Nhu Xuan iron furnace materials. Photo courtesy of Thanh Duy

Having visited the Military Region Museum and reported his achievements to Uncle Ho, Private First Class Tran Van Thien - a soldier of Company 10, Battalion 4 (Engineer Brigade 414) recalled: "Having attended the ceremony to report achievements to Uncle Ho, I felt very moved, mixed with honor and pride; that feeling still remains until now, urging me to strive to study and follow Uncle Ho to complete all tasks well. From now until the day of discharge, I still wish to return to the Museum once again to report my achievements to Uncle Ho."

It is known that the Political Department of Military Region 4 has just completed the dossier to request the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to upgrade the "Commemorative site of Uncle Ho's visit to Military Region 4 in Nghe An on June 15, 1957" to a National Historical Relic; at the same time, surveyed and proposed a plan to build a specialized exhibition room on President Ho Chi Minh; leaders of the Party and State in the homeland of Military Region 4;General-ranking military officers working in Military Region 4 and their hometowns in Military Region 4; consolidating and upgrading some items of the Museum.

Mines and grenades made from cast iron furnace materials designed by engineer Vo Quy Huan are displayed at the Military Zone 4 Museum. Photo courtesy of Thanh Duy

In May 2021, the Military Zone 4 Museum was recognized as a provincial-level tourist destination; this is a place to preserve the historical, cultural and military artistic values ​​of the North Central region. In particular, the Uncle Ho Monument combined with 6 reliefs of 6 provinces contributes to creating diversity in the way of expressing affection for Uncle Ho, becoming a complex of works to pay tribute to and commemorate Uncle Ho, both solemn and respectful; close and cozy; becoming a "red address" to educate and foster revolutionary traditions for cadres, soldiers and people./.