Solemn burial ceremony of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos

On the morning of May 14, at Nghi Loc District Martyrs' Cemetery, the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province solemnly held a burial ceremony for the remains of Vietnamese Volunteer Soldiers and Experts who heroically fought and sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, and for noble international duties in Laos.

Delegates attending the ceremony. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Attending the ceremony were Major General Tran Quoc Dung - Director of the Policy Department, General Department of Politics of the Ministry of National Defense, Chief of Office of National Steering Committee 515 - the standing agency of the Special Working Committee of the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; Major General Si Tha Duong Ma La - Director of the Policy Department of the Ministry of National Defense - Deputy Head of the Special Working Committee of the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic; Major General Nguyen Doan Anh - Commander of Military Region 4; representatives of the Party Committee and authorities of Xay Xom Bun, Xieng Khouang, Vientiane provinces, Lao People's Democratic Republic.

On the side of Nghe An province, there were comrades: Nguyen Xuan Son - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; comrades in the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee; representatives of provincial departments, branches and sectors; representatives of the Party Committee, government and people of Nghi Loc district.

Delegation of the Special Working Group of the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam commemorates the martyrs. Photo: Thanh Cuong

With pure and loyal international sentiment and imbued with the teaching "Helping friends is helping yourself" of beloved Uncle Ho, during the years of resistance, tens of thousands of Vietnamese volunteers and experts left their homeland for Laos to fight together against the common enemy, to gain independence and freedom for the nation and happiness for the people.

Many Vietnamese volunteers and experts fell in Laos. The sweat and blood of Vietnamese soldiers and experts combined with the blood and sweat of Lao soldiers and people contributed to the victory of the revolutions of the two countries.

Delegation of the Lao Government's Special Working Group commemorates the martyrs. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Nghe An provincial leaders respectfully bowed to pay tribute to the martyrs. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The war is long gone, Vietnam and Laos are completely unified and independent, but there are still thousands of Vietnamese people remaining in Laos.

Searching for and bringing them back to the Motherland, over the past 35 years, the Government's Special Task Force, the Ministry of National Defense, the Military Region 4 Command and Nghe An province have closely coordinated with the provinces of the Lao People's Democratic Republic to carry out search and recovery work.

12,202 remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died fighting in Laos have been brought back to Vietnam. Of these, 924 remains of martyrs whose identities and hometowns have been identified and handed over to local authorities and families for burial in their hometowns.

In the 2018-2019 dry season, 98 martyrs' remains were found, of which one was identified. Photo: Thanh Cuong

In the dry season of 2018 - 2019, 98 martyrs' remains were found and buried at Nghi Loc District Martyrs' Cemetery, including one remains named To Van Chi, whose hometown and unit have not been identified.

After the funeral, the Government's Special Task Force, Military Region 4, and the Provincial Military Command will continue to carry out the remaining tasks to determine their identities and hometowns so that they can return to their families and loved ones.

Leaders of Nghe An province welcomed the martyrs back to their hometown. Photo: Thanh Cuong

At exactly 7:00 a.m., in a solemn and respectful atmosphere, delegates and a large number of people respectfully offered wreaths, lit incense sticks in memory, and expressed their deep gratitude to the martyrs who did not hesitate to sacrifice their blood and bones for the cause of liberation for the Lao ethnic people.

Bringing the remains of martyrs to their resting place. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The martyrs' exploits have contributed to glorifying and adding color to the golden history of the two nations, further strengthening the loyal sentiments, solidarity and special friendship between Vietnam and Laos.

Pray for the martyrs to rest in peace and bless the country and homeland to develop more and more. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The eulogy read by comrade Thai Thanh Quy at the ceremony respectfully paid tribute to and recorded the feats of the martyrs and stated: The Party Committee and people of Nghe An vow to promote the fine traditions of their homeland and country, forever remember the heroic fighting spirit and noble sacrifice of the heroic martyrs, strive to successfully achieve the goals of socio-economic development, national defense and security, and bring their homeland to develop rapidly and sustainably, soon becoming a well-off province in the North.

Nghe An province will continue to continue, preserve and foster the special and loyal friendship between the Vietnamese and Lao peoples and the two Parties to pass on to future generations./.