Solemn funeral of Vietnamese martyrs and experts who died in Laos

(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of May 12, at the Nghi Loc District Martyrs' Cemetery, the Provincial People's Committee held a burial ceremony for the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Central leaders, provincial leaders and many relatives and people held a memorial service for 107 heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the noble international mission.

Before the ceremony, delegations representing the two governments of Vietnam and Laos, special working delegations from the provinces of Xieng Khouang, Vientiane, Xay Xom Bun and Nghe An, and a large number of people offered flowers and incense to commemorate the 107 martyrs gathered this time.

Comrade Dao Ngoc Dung offered incense at the common altar of martyrs.

In the dry season of 2016 - 2017, the collection team searched for and recovered 104 sets of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Of these, 90 sets of remains were found in Xieng Khouang province, 5 sets of remains in Vientiane province and 9 sets of remains were found in Xay Xom Bun province. In addition, on this occasion, 3 sets of remains of martyrs found and collected in Ky Son district were buried.

In his eulogy at the memorial service, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa - Head of the Provincial Special Working Committee expressed his infinite gratitude to the heroic martyrs, those who sacrificed their lives for the solidarity and friendship between the two countries Vietnam and Laos, and for the noble international mission.

Clip of comrade Le Ngoc Hoa reading the eulogy at the ceremony:

Comrade Le Ngoc Hoa was moved to express his infinite gratitude and promised that "The Party Committee, government and people of the province will continue to promote the traditions of the nation and the heroic Soviet homeland; strive to build the homeland and country to become increasingly prosperous and strong; worthy of the great sacrifices of the heroic martyrs".

Comrade Kham Xen Ma Ni Vong - Standing Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Xieng Khouang Province: "It can be said that in every part of Laos, there is no riverbank, stream, high ravine, deep forest without footprints, sweat and blood of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers. It is their sacrifice that contributed significantly to the victory of Laos in the war against the common enemy of the two countries".

Paying tribute to the fallen heroes of the nation, the Party Committee, government and people of Nghe An vow to continue to promote the traditions of the nation and the heroic Soviet homeland; strive to build the homeland and country to become increasingly prosperous.

Over the years, with a sense of responsibility and sacred affection for the heroic martyrs, Nghe An province has closely coordinated with provinces of the Lao PDR to search for, exhume and collect nearly 12,000 sets of martyrs' remains to bring back to the country for burial. Of these, over 960 sets of martyrs with known names and hometowns have been found to bring back to their hometowns for burial.

Some pictures at the ceremony:

Provincial leaders visited 107 heroic martyrs gathered during the dry season of 2016 - 2017.

The leaders held a ceremony to move the martyrs' bodies to their final resting place.

Comrade Nguyen Dac Vinh dropped a handful of soil from his homeland on the graves of his comrades.

Family and comrades of martyr Le Van Kiem (Gia Vien, Ninh Binh) burn incense at his grave. Martyr Kiem died in 1972 in Xieng Khouang province when he was just 19 years old.

Canh Nam - Thanh Cuong