On July 4th, the Traditional Resistance Club of the Youth Union of the Central Agencies of the Southern Region organized a seminar to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Youth Union Committee of the Youth Union of the Central Agencies of the Southern Region (1966 - 2026), a unit awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces, with the theme "The Flame of Youth Lives On."
Mr. Nguyen Minh Triet, Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Permanent Secretary of the Central Committee of the Youth Union, and President of the Vietnam Student Association, attended the event. The program was attended by over 250 former officials, union members, and young people from the Central Committee of the Southern Region during the resistance war against the US, along with over 50 officials, union members, and young people from the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union and Tay Ninh province.
Artist and Labor Hero Dang Ai Viet, whose real name is Dang Thi Bong, shared that she was born in Tien Giang and joined the revolution with a very young spirit. At that time, she gave herself the name Dang Ai Viet, meaning "patriotic Vietnam."
Speaking of the theme "Keeping the Flame of Youth Alive," the Vietnamese artist was moved because it was not just the title of a seminar, but also the spirit of an entire generation. A generation that dared to live, dared to travel, and dared to sacrifice their youth so that the country could have what it has today.
At 78 years old, with 57 years of Party membership, the humble Vietnamese artist says that today's young generation are the masters of the country, capable of doing "great things." As for her, she chooses to continue doing a "small thing"—traveling to various provinces and cities to paint portraits of heroic Vietnamese mothers.
PHOTO: AN VY
As of June 26th, Ms. Viet had painted 3,743 portraits of Vietnamese Heroic Mothers across the country. For her, each painting is not only a work of art but also a tribute. She says she is "racing against time" because many more mothers are waiting to have their images captured.
Immediately after the discussion, Ms. Viet shared her plans to return to Dong Thap , where approximately 60 Vietnamese Heroic Mothers are waiting for her to paint their portraits. At nearly 80 years old, this journey continues as a way of keeping the flame alive, reminding future generations that today's peace was bought with the blood and sacrifices of countless people.
Mr. Triet said that the responsibility of today's youth is not only to listen and be moved by historical stories, but also to know how to transform pride into action.
PHOTO: AN VY
Speaking at the program, Mr. Nguyen Minh Triet, Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Permanent Secretary of the Central Committee of the Youth Union, and President of the Vietnam Student Association, expressed his deep gratitude to the previous generations of Youth Union officials. He emphasized that the history of the Vietnamese nation was written by the sacrifices and contributions of many generations. In this history, the youth have always been the pioneering force, ready to venture into the most difficult places for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.
According to Mr. Triet, this means building a strong Youth Union organization, educating young people about ideals, implementing practical projects and initiatives, mastering science and technology, digital transformation, and contributing to building a strong and prosperous Vietnam.
Mr. Triet also mentioned the "Stories from the Time of Fire and Flowers" project implemented by the Central Youth Union. To date, more than 200,000 stories and information from over 50,000 historical witnesses and heroic Vietnamese mothers have been recorded by Youth Union members and young people using digital tools. This is how the younger generation uses technology to preserve memories, transforming traditions into products that are more accessible to young people in the digital age.
Young people listen to the heroic memories from previous generations.
PHOTO: AN VY
Mr. Nguyen Huu Chau, former Standing Member of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council and Standing Deputy Chairman of the Traditional Resistance Club of the Youth Union of Central Agencies in the Southern Region, believes that to effectively inspire today's youth, organizations must be strong and individuals must possess strong character. Technology is merely a tool; character is what truly guides them.
Listening to the stories at the seminar, Vo Phong Phu, a member of the Executive Committee of the Hoa Hung Ward Youth Union (Ho Chi Minh City), shared that today's young people are proud to hear the elders recount the wartime experiences. According to Phu, young people must know how to follow in the footsteps and continue the ideals of the previous generation through concrete actions to contribute to building a prosperous and developed Ho Chi Minh City.
Young people are determined to turn ideals into action.
PHOTO: AN VY
Nguyen Le Xuan Hoa, a student at Le Thi Hong Gam High School (Ho Chi Minh City), said she was moved by the program because her grandparents are also veterans. "After listening to the stories told by the veterans, I realized that patriotism isn't something far-fetched. It's about appreciating the past and living more responsibly in the present," Hoa said.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/60-nam-ngon-lua-thanh-nien-van-chay-185260704143312936.htm
