Truong Bon green gratitude

Panoramic view of Truong Bon historical relic site. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Green construction next to bomb crater evidence

Right next to the common grave of 13 heroic martyrs of Truong Bon Youth Volunteers, there are bomb craters that have not been filled. The bomb craters are deep, carved into the brown soil, silently through the sun and rain, like silent but fierce evidence. Their existence is not an unintentional thing, but on the contrary, it is the intention of those who built this historical site, to send a message about the fierceness of war, the danger at the "fire coordinates" of Truong Bon.

In recent years, many rows of tall trees have appeared around the bomb crater. The green of the tree canopy gradually casts its shadow over the dark brown bomb crater. The seemingly contradictory "planning" is actually another intentional thing. When talking to the officers and employees here, the concerns of construction become more profound.

Tourists visit the green tree system at Truong Bon Historical Site. Photo: Phuoc Anh

Mr. Tran Tuan Anh - the officer in charge of trees at Truong Bon Relic Site said that currently on the total area of ​​more than 210,000 m2 of the relic site, there are about 800 large trees of various species, not including other small trees and flower beds.

“In the process of constructing items for the relic site, the investor and the management board all aim to harmonize the purpose of both preserving historical evidence and creating green space so that this place is not only a place to show gratitude, remember the source of water, and educate about revolutionary traditions, but also a place to visit and attract tourists.” - Mr. Tran Tuan Anh shared.

The creation of green space at Truong Bon historical relic site has received support from many agencies and units in the province. On May 20, 2015, Nghe An Provincial Party Committee issued Official Letter No. 4279 on launching tree planting at Truong Bon historical relic site, with the noble meaning of remembering Uncle Ho and the martyrs who sacrificed for the nation's longevity, inscribing the tradition of "drinking water, remembering the source, eating fruit, remembering the tree planter".

Responding to this policy, for the past 4 years, hundreds of organizations and individuals have joined hands to green the Truong Bon “fire coordinates” with rare and precious green trees. Not only in the province, this correct policy has also received enthusiastic support from many people outside the province. And overcoming all prejudices and doubts about the tree planting activity following the “movement”, nearly 800 green trees growing majestically in Truong Bon today are the clearest proof of this meaningful work.

Workers take care of trees at Truong Bon Historical Site. Photo: Phuoc Anh

Strolling in the open space of the relic site, it seems impossible to stop to explore and admire the trees of all kinds, shapes, and colors of flowers. There are bright red Indian laurels, dark purple military plums, red Northwest ban trees, white border plums... There are many souvenir trees of Party and State leaders, ministries and central branches. Most impressively, in the Truong Bon Historical Relic Site, there are trees with a circumference of over 1.5m.

Digitizing tree maps

Mr. Tran Tuan Anh - an officer of the relic site jokingly said that the story of the green trees here could not be told all day. Each tree has its own "history", some were transported from the faraway Northwest, some had to be grafted from the faraway South... I don't know if it's because of the sacred energy of Truong Bon or not, but almost 100% of the green shoots planted in the ground here grow well, including the species of trees that when they were first transported, many people "reprimanded" them for being afraid of being difficult to grow in strange land! Yet, after just one spring rain, the young shoots have sprouted; and after a few more Tet tree planting seasons, even those "difficult" species of trees have bloomed.

The number of trees registered for planting by agencies and units is increasing rapidly, requiring scientific arrangement and zoning planning. In 2016, the management board of Truong Bon historical relic site applied digitalization of tree maps, marking the lot numbers, plots, tree types, planting units and planting times... Thanks to this method, when agencies and units want to visit the trees, it will be easier and more convenient.

Talking about trees and flowers in Truong Bon, the tour guides shared many touching memories with us. They said that when groups of veterans and former female youth volunteers came to offer incense and flowers to the souls of the 13 heroic martyrs, they did not forget to bring bunches of black but painful soapberries, a pair of wooden combs, a piece of mirror... They placed them on the common graves of the women and men. And cried silently...

Truong Bon - National Historical Relic Site is forever a symbol of the indomitable strength and bravery of our army and people in the struggle to protect the Fatherland. Photo: Huy Thu

They said they missed their youth in the midst of war, desperately craving a handful of soapberry to wash their hair but couldn’t find any, sadly watching their hair and that of their friends fall out due to malaria. Then they stood around the soapberry trees by the communal grave, whispering to each other about the past and present, about people still alive and those who had passed away… In the Truong Bon historical site, there are dozens of soapberry trees, the tallest of which is nearly 10m tall and has started to bear fruit in recent years. This tree species associated with the female Youth Volunteers of the past evokes many emotions in visitors when they come here.

A few days ago, a youth group from an agency outside Hanoi went to Truong Bon to plant a field of mua flowers. Sim and mua are familiar plants in Truong Bon, closely associated with every forest and hill around the field. The day we visited, the flower field had not yet reached its full bloom, but surely by early summer next year it will be filled with purple. Green trees, purple flowers, yellow buds... Truong Bon gradually became fresher like that, reviving in the gratitude of generations today.