Gratitude endures hardships

(Baonghean) - July - the month of remembrance and gratitude, we went up National Highway 7A, overcoming the sun and wind to the midland countryside of Anh Son, where the Vietnam - Laos International Martyrs Cemetery is located. The sun shining down on the land like a "fire pan" of the Central region on this summer day made the journey of relatives from all regions seem longer.

However, when stopping at the small town, stepping into the cemetery grounds, the fatigue of the long journey disappeared, replaced by a feeling of relief and serenity. In front of the cemetery, there was a quiet space with rows of green trees, bamboo hedges bending in the wind, pine trees swaying in harmony with the chirping of birds. The summer heat was somewhat dispelled.

Out there, where the graves are neatly arranged, the cemetery management staff are still busy with their work. Some sweep up the fallen leaves, some meticulously remove the clumps of grass clinging to the graves, some fix the incense bowls, all with their backs exposed to the scorching sun.

View of the Vietnam - Laos Martyrs Cemetery. Photo: Quang Dung

While working in the cemetery, seeing a martyr's relative coming to visit, Mr. Nguyen Sy Sau - the staff managing the list and the martyr's graves approached to visit and enthusiastically guide. When asked about the daily work, Mr. Sau shared: "Nominally, here each person is assigned a task, but in reality, one person has to take on many tasks. Taking care of and burning incense for nearly 11,000 graves in the campus is the daily work of the staff, regardless of rain or shine...".

After visiting our loved ones’ graves, it was late afternoon, so we approached the cemetery management staff to have a chance to talk with those who do this quiet but meaningful work. In addition to Mr. Nguyen Sy Sau (born in 1973), there were 5 other employees who were also working hard, even though it was after office hours.

The person with the longest working experience is Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hien (born in 1977), who has been working for 18 years. Graduated in Tourism, at the time the Vietnam - Laos Cemetery Management Board was recruiting staff, Ms. Hien applied and was accepted. At first, Ms. Hien and her family were worried and anxious. Because a girl who had just turned 20, was assigned to take care of nearly 11,000 martyrs' graves, working every day in a sacred place, such worries were natural. Therefore, her intention was to work temporarily for a while, wait for another job to be contacted, then apply for a transfer. But then, over time, the initial worries did not "fade", she felt more and more attached to this cemetery.

Every day, her job is to welcome relatives of martyrs, visitors to the cemetery and clean the graves. In the hot sun, she covers her head, wears a mask and a sun-protective jacket; in the rain, she wears a hat and a raincoat, and works with her colleagues to clean up the cemetery, which covers nearly 7 hectares.

Staff of the Vietnam - Laos Cemetery Management Board clean and weed around the martyrs' graves. Photo: Cong Kien

During all those years of being attached to this place, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hien has many memories, but she will never forget one time, when two relatives of martyrs from Thanh Chuong district came up together on a bicycle, their inner tube got punctured on the way so they arrived at the cemetery just as it was getting dark, and it was a rainy day. Hungry and cold, with no money left, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Uy (Head of the Management Board at that time) and Ms. Hien reserved dinner for the two relatives of martyrs. After dinner, the two asked to stay overnight at the Management Board, Ms. Hien cleaned up the living room, went home to get blankets and mosquito nets to bring over...

Mr. Nguyen Sy Sau is also one of the people with many years of experience working at the Vietnam - Laos Cemetery. In 2004, while working as a traffic worker, he applied for a job transfer here and was assigned the task of managing the list and graves of martyrs. After more than 13 years of working, Mr. Sau is familiar with each grave, knows each location and number of each grave and remembers the tombstones of about 3,000 martyrs with complete information; 500 martyrs lack information about their hometown, unit and name (know their name but not their hometown, or know their hometown but not their name).

Besides, like other staff, every day Mr. Sau also participates in welcoming relatives, cleaning the grounds, and taking care of the graves. There is one special thing, among the nearly 11,000 martyrs resting here, there is Mr. Nguyen Sy Sau's older brother who sacrificed his life on the battlefield in Laos. That is also an additional source of motivation, a calling for him to be attached to this sacred place.

On full moon days and holidays, martyrs' graves are tended to with incense and fresh flowers. Photo: Cong Kien

Furthermore, Mr. Sau’s family currently lives in Do Luong, and he can only visit home 5-6 days a month, spending the rest of his time working at the cemetery. His wife often jokes that her husband spends most of his time taking care of the deceased, and only spends a very small amount of time with his family and children. At times like these, he can only laugh and say: “The heroes and martyrs did not spare their blood, bones, and lives, and my work is just a grain of sand in the ocean!”

Managing the list and graves of martyrs, so that whenever relatives come to ask to exhume remains to return to their hometowns, or to transfer them from other places to the Vietnam - Laos Cemetery, Mr. Sau is the one responsible for the procedures and related work. Relatives rarely give advance notice, and exhumation often takes place late at night, so he always has to be present and assist in everything. There were even times on holidays, when he had just driven 50 kilometers home, had just had dinner, and had not yet had time to rest when he received a telegram saying that relatives had come to ask to transfer the remains of martyrs to their hometowns. Even though it was in the middle of the night and it was pouring rain, Mr. Sau still drove back to do his duty. And, that week was considered to have no days off, only seeing his wife and children for less than an hour. That was the job, but Mr. Sau always kept one thing in mind: he had to fulfill his responsibility to those who had fallen...

Among the 6 employees, Nguyen Thi Ngan (born in 1985) is the youngest in age and experience. Ngan started her job in 2009, her main task is to explain and introduce relevant information about the cemetery to visiting groups. Many people shed tears when they came here, they cried because they witnessed the vast number of graves, because of her gentle, emotional and touching voice. Few people know that Ngan's family situation is very difficult when her husband and wife live in different places. Her husband is a teacher, living in Phong Thinh commune, Thanh Chuong district, about 40 kilometers from Anh Son town. Ngan and her child are temporarily staying at her parents' house in Tuong Son commune (Anh Son), more than 10 kilometers from her workplace, each month her small family can only reunite a few times. Because of work, with sympathy and sharing, Ngan's husband always encourages her to overcome difficulties and strive to complete the task.

Mr. Hoang Danh Trung - Head of the Vietnam - Laos Cemetery Management Board said: "The management board consists of 2 leaders and 6 employees, that many people managing and taking care of nearly 11,000 graves with an area of ​​7 hectares is really too much, the work is very quiet, not many people know. While the monthly income is only 3 - 4 million VND, life is still difficult, but everyone is attached to the job, always keeping in mind one thing: contributing to society to show gratitude and repay those who died for independence and freedom".

Cong Kien