The melancholic marching song of Son Duong...

For many people in Ha Tinh province, Son Duong Island has always been a beloved destination, especially during the Lunar New Year. And for a young journalist like me, it's also a dream destination, a place where I can perfect my feelings and perceptions about the image of soldiers in peacetime.

The delegation of "Ha Tinh Youth with the Homeland's Sea and Islands" took a commemorative photo on Son Duong Island.

On the day we arrived at the island, the sea was shrouded in thick fog. This atmosphere made the 2024 "Ha Tinh Youth with the Sea and Islands of the Homeland" journey, organized by the Ha Tinh Provincial Youth Union in coordination with the Provincial Military Command, even more captivating. Many members of the delegation and I had never been to the island before and had no idea what it looked like. Therefore, when the island gradually emerged from the misty haze, everyone cheered with delight. In the distance, at the pier, the officers and soldiers were waving, waiting to welcome us. Suddenly, a wave of gratitude and pride welled up inside me. Who would I meet? How would the officers and soldiers on the island live? So many questions flooded my mind, along with the crashing waves beneath the ship.

Stepping onto the island, Phan Van Viet Hoang, a K13 Elementary Education student from Ha Tinh University, couldn't hide his emotion: "I've heard a lot about the lives of soldiers on the island, but it's true that 'seeing is believing.' Just by looking at the eyes and shaking hands of the officers and soldiers, I could feel how much hardship and toil they endure, and I could understand their patriotism more deeply."

Many cultural and artistic performances were organized by the youth of Ha Tinh on Son Duong Island.

As midday approached and the mist completely dissipated, the songs and voices of the youth of Ha Tinh rose amidst the vast expanse of sky and sea. The officers and soldiers joined in the melody with their singing, their clapping, their heartfelt gazes, and perhaps deep within them, a touch of regret began to stir, knowing that this atmosphere would soon fade away… Thinking of that, my eyes suddenly welled up with tears…

These are heartfelt gifts from the children of Ha Tinh to the officers and soldiers on Son Duong Island.

But that feeling quickly faded because so many activities awaited. These included gifts from the mainland to the officers and soldiers stationed on the islands: paintings expressing affection for the sea and islands, for the soldiers guarding the homeland's seas and skies; warm handwritten letters from students in Ha Tinh to the soldiers; and gifts such as national flags, red shirts with yellow stars, and maps of Vietnam from the province to the officers and soldiers there. Presenting these gifts, the members of the delegation felt their awareness and responsibility in protecting the sovereignty of the nation's maritime borders, islands, and territory increased many times over...

A moment of conversation between delegates participating in the program "Ha Tinh Youth with the Homeland's Sea and Islands" and officers and soldiers on Son Duong Island.

On the island, I met many people, some with years of experience working here, others who had just arrived, but in their eyes there was always a glimmer of faith and love, and in their conversations there was always a persistent determination to excellently complete their tasks...

Talking to Captain Pham Chung Anh, the commander of the 12.7 mm gun crew, who has served five years on Son Duong Island, I understood even more the hardships and difficulties they endure. It's not just about training, marching, and guard duty, but also about long nights missing their parents, wives, and children, especially during holidays. And I'll always remember Captain Pham Chung Anh's words: "My wife is very strong!" Just that alone makes all the hardships and difficulties a soldier faces seem insignificant. Only when the country is at peace can the family be happy. That's a truth that every soldier always remembers to motivate themselves and their loved ones.

The trip to Son Duong Island helped us – young people – gain many profound lessons about love for our homeland, and about the responsibility of building and developing the country in the new era...

Around us, officers, soldiers, and young people were still singing enthusiastically. The stirring marches blended with the roaring waves, dispelling any weak emotions. “Our life is a military march / Our life is a soldier’s song / We sing it endlessly through the days / Soaring over the mountains and forests of the border to the distant islands.” I sat silently, absorbing those images, letting my heart experience a myriad of emotions. High above where we sat, the national flag fluttered proudly. I am certain that, not only I, but also the young people on this trip have learned many profound lessons about love for our homeland, about the responsibility of building and developing the country in the new era…

A day on the island wasn't enough time for me and the other members of the journey to fully understand the lives and work of the soldiers there, but each of us brought back to the mainland feelings of love and longing. As the ship sailed away, the waving hands faded into the distance, and the island became a tiny dot in the vast ocean, but we felt we had truly grown a lot, with new willpower, determination, and aspirations in our own plans... Tet (Lunar New Year) is approaching, but the soldiers on the island continue their duty of guarding the skies and seas of the Fatherland. I believe that the feelings we brought to the island today, and the feelings sent from the mainland every day, will give them strength to overcome all obstacles and fulfill their noble mission...

Here's a sprig of spring flowers for you, along with my best wishes!

Anh Thùy

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/nui-hong-song-la/am-khuc-quan-hanh-son-duong/261337.htm