50 years of National Reunification: Proud to be part of the parade on the great day

The Cultural-Sports-Media parade was attended by many beauty queens and prominent artists. (Photo: Xuan Khu/VNA)

The Cultural- Sports -Media parade was attended by many beauty queens and prominent artists. (Photo: Xuan Khu/VNA)

Since mid-March, in the hot weather of the South, more than 2,000 people of Ho Chi Minh City of all ages, representing all genders and social classes, have been practicing diligently on weekends despite the scorching sun to prepare for the mass performance at the 50th Anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025).

Mr. Trinh Van Quynh, a priest of the Congregation of Our Lady of the Poor in District 3, said that for nearly 2 months now, he has temporarily put aside his habit of going to church on weekends to join more than 120 representatives of religions, ethnicities, genders, and sectors of the city to practice in the Fatherland Front parade.

From the first days of awkward steps, not yet straight hands, and crooked posture after just a few steps, now, after nearly 2 months of practicing hard every week, everything has become smooth and proficient to the bustling music.

Monk Trinh Van Quynh said that everyone, regardless of their religion, such as Catholicism, Buddhism, Islam, or Khmer, Chinese, Cham, from the elderly to the young, were very united, serious, and enthusiastic during the training process, together overcoming initial difficulties to complete the exercises as required by the instructor. During breaks or at the end of each training session, everyone gathered together, drinking water, wiping sweat, learning from experience, and encouraging each other to do better next time.

“Everyone encouraged each other to make their formation the most beautiful and even, because the Fatherland Front is a symbol of solidarity, the image of great national unity. I myself also determined that this is not only a duty but also a pride to represent the people of the City to participate in the great national holiday, and I try every day to not disappoint the trust and encouragement of the Fathers when they chose me to participate in the Fatherland Front parade," said priest Trinh Van Quynh.

The Fatherland Front marching formation during the joint training ceremony. (Photo: Xuan Khu/VNA)

While wiping away the sweat from the night before the first rehearsal, actress Ho Thu Anh, who is known to the film-loving public for her role as the female lead Ba Huong in the film “Tunnel”, said that along with the success of the film, these days, in addition to her personal work, she is quite busy with many exchange programs between the film crew and the audience. However, she still takes the time to not miss any practice sessions, day or night, of the Arts and Sports group of which she is a member.

"For me, except for finding a parking space when going to practice, which was a bit difficult, everything else was very convenient. Because I had just gone through a long period of training to film " Tunnel ", the formation, the team, and the heat were normal. In addition, seeing the veteran artists, older than me, still enthusiastically practicing gave me more motivation to do my job well. As a model and actor, I am used to being in front of a crowd, but during the few times of practicing, when I walked across the stage to the music, the emotion and pride welled up inside me when I was able to contribute to the success of the big day," Thu Anh happily said.

Among the groups participating in the parade, the image of the soldiers with gray hair but still shining with the spirit of Uncle Ho's soldiers of the Veterans group received the most attention from everyone, because these were the people who directly created the victory in the Spring of 1975. These uncles and aunts not only represented the military branches and arms that participated in the battle but were also living symbols of the heroic spirit, the indomitable fighting spirit against foreign invaders of generations of our army and people.

Colonel Cao Van Phat, Chief of Office of the City Veterans Association, in charge of directing the Veterans Parade, said that more than 120 Veterans participating in the parade practice were selected from districts, towns and Thu Duc City, representing more than 70,000 veterans in Ho Chi Minh City as well as more than three million veterans nationwide. They represent generations who directly participated in combat, bravely and steadfastly fought in the wars for national independence and brought the spirit and tradition of "Determination to fight, determination to win" of the People's Revolutionary Army into the practice activities.

“Although most of the brothers are old, their hair is gray, their eyes are not as sharp as 50 years ago, their steps and arms are not as strong as before, but all of them are imbued with the view that this is not only a political task but also a great honor for those who are still alive to represent their fallen comrades and sacrifices to be present at the sacred moment of commemorating the 50th anniversary of the victory. Therefore, the brothers have made every effort to complete all the requirements of the training stages, worthy of the fine tradition of revolutionary soldiers “complete every mission, overcome every difficulty, defeat every enemy,” said Mr. Cao Duc Phat.

Parade formation Overseas Vietnamese march during the training ceremony. (Photo: Xuan Khu/VNA)

12 parade groups led by Ho Chi Minh City participated in the Celebration Ceremony, including: Group Honoring the Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, Labor Heroes, and typical historical witnesses (parading on vehicles); Vietnam Fatherland Front; Veterans; Former Youth Volunteers; Workers; Farmers; Intellectuals; Businessmen; Overseas Vietnamese; Women; Children and Youth; Culture-Sports.

At the two recent practice sessions, amidst the vibrant, soulful music of revolutionary songs that have endured through the years, the mass marching blocs of Ho Chi Minh City strode proudly before the stage.

The solemn and emotional faces with eyes shining with pride representing the city's people, following the strong steps of each block, received the affectionate and respectful welcome of the guests on the stage as well as the people standing crowded along the streets around the city center.

Each of their steps shines with the spirit, identity and pride of each class, each organization, all the people of the city named after Uncle Ho and is a steady step forward of the great national unity bloc on the path of development of the country./.

Vietnamplus.vn

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/50-nam-thong-nhat-dat-nuoc-tu-hao-duoc-tham-gia-doi-hinh-dieu-hanh-ngay-dai-le-post1034976.vnp