During the resistance war against the US, in the great rear of the North, the people of Bac Giang directly fought, worked in production, and provided human and material resources to the frontline, contributing to the historic victory of the nation - the Great Spring Victory of 1975, liberating the South and reunifying the country.
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| Soldiers who fought in Da Mai met and expressed gratitude to mothers in the Association of Soldiers' Mothers ( Photo taken in 2000 ). Photo by Viet Hung |
“The soldier's shirt that mother patched years ago” - symbol of military-civilian love
One of the images deeply engraved in the minds of many generations, portrayed by musician Nguyen Van Ty in the song “The Soldier’s Shirt That Mother Patched in the Past”, is the close bond between the army and the people, woven from needles and threads amid bombs and bullets. The image of mothers patching clothes for soldiers has become a symbol of the spirit of solidarity between the army and the people.
Not only an artistic image, the "patched shirt" is a vivid historical fact. Da Mai commune, formerly part of Bac Giang town (now Bac Giang city) is a strategic location on the banks of the Thuong River. During the years 1965 - 1972, the US imperialists attacked the North with air force and navy. Hundreds of US planes dropped bombs on Phu Lang Thuong bridge, Bac Giang town, Kep station... in an attempt to cut off our supply lines. In response, the army and people in the province organized a widespread people's air defense network, with 37mm artillery positions right in the villages, including many key points in Da Mai, Tan My, Song Khe. Here, mothers and sisters, regardless of danger, established "soldier shirt patching groups" right next to the traffic trenches. The shirt patching groups of mother Nguyen Thi Hoa and mother Pham Thi Ty are typical examples. The sisters and mothers not only mended torn clothes but also gave confidence and strength to each soldier on the air defense battlefield to fight against American planes.
Mr. Nguyen Van Tu, a former anti-aircraft gunner of Company 32, Regiment 228, once recalled: “One time, while we were on duty, our shirts were torn. Mother Hoa brought us a shirt that had been patched the night before. In that shirt was a mother’s love, a vital advice on the battlefield…”
It is not by chance that musician Nguyen Van Ty was moved to write the lyrics:
"That shirt I have been wearing for a long time now
To remember the day we returned to Ha Bac
Fighting with the enemy, my shirt is torn more
So the old mothers had to stay up all night to mend clothes…”
The lyrics about the “patched shirt” evoke the image of the resilient Northern rear, where each citizen is a soldier, each family is a medical station, a military equipment warehouse, a political battlefield. With intelligence and creativity, the Northern rear fought the enemy, produced, and cared for soldiers with all their hearts devoted to the revolution. In that flow, the soldier’s shirt patched with the love of heroic mothers became a symbol of the relationship between the army and the people “like fish and water” - a soft but persistent and resilient strength, contributing to the Great Victory of Spring 1975, liberating the South and unifying the country.
With its important strategic position, Bac Giang was both a fierce target of the US Air Force and an important rear base. More than 6,000 enemy aircraft raided the province, causing great losses during the years of resistance against the US. Bac Giang sent more than 70,000 young men to join the army and support the frontline. The army and people of Bac Giang shot down 161 US aircraft and captured 92 pilots. The emulation movements "Not a pound of rice is missing, not a soldier is missing", "Enough pounds of rice, enough soldiers", "The whole province goes to war, the whole people go to war", "All for the frontline, all for victory" spread throughout agencies, localities, enterprises, farms, factories, sectors, sectors, and classes of people, becoming a "network of patriotic action" throughout the province.
With great contributions, the Party Committee and People of Bac Giang province have been awarded the Gold Star Order by the Party and State; 56 collectives and 29 individuals have been awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the State; 1,475 mothers have been awarded the title of Heroic Vietnamese Mother by the State. Many collectives and individuals have been awarded noble titles and rewards by the State...
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| Luc Nam district armed forces help Mr. Nguyen Van Thay's family in Ha My village, Chu Dien commune build a house (documentary photo). Photo by Huu Trinh |
Promoting glorious traditions, firmly stepping into the new stage
The tradition of military-civilian solidarity, forged through the fierce years of war, has become a great spiritual driving force for Bac Giang in the cause of innovation and development. The image of “The soldier’s shirt that mother patched in the past” has become a symbol of military-civilian solidarity, continuing to shine in the journey of building the homeland today.
Firmly standing on the traditional revolutionary fulcrum, Bac Giang has made strong and comprehensive development steps. In 2024, the province's economic growth rate (GRDP) reached 13.85% - the highest in the country. The scale of the economy continued to maintain its 12th position in the country, leading the Northern Midlands and Mountains region. Export turnover reached 33 billion USD, ranking 5th nationwide. The competitiveness index, administrative reform, and digital government are all in the leading group. The material and spiritual life of the people is increasingly improved, social security is sustainably ensured, and the poverty rate has decreased to 1.73%. Bac Giang has gradually affirmed its position as one of the important growth poles of the Northern Midlands and Mountains region, developing according to the model of high-tech industry, ecological agriculture and smart urban areas.
In 2025, the forecast for the world, regional and domestic situation is expected to continue to develop in a complex and unpredictable manner, affecting the completion of socio-economic development goals and targets. Clearly aware of the issues being raised, promoting the tradition of solidarity, continuing to innovate, be dynamic, creative, dare to think, dare to do, Bac Giang is determined to successfully implement the political goals and tasks set for 2025, creating a premise for breakthroughs, accelerating development for the 2026-2030 period, contributing to the whole country entering a new era, the era of national growth with practical actions: Resolutely building a clean and strong Party organization; improving the effectiveness of state management; promoting administrative reform; developing the digital economy and digital society; taking care of social security; maintaining national defense and security; promoting international integration and cooperation.
In the journey of innovation and integration, the Party Committee, government and people of Bac Giang continue to unite, join hands, inherit and promote heroic traditions, and build an increasingly rich, civilized and modern homeland.
Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department of Bac Giang Provincial Party Committee
Source: https://baobacgiang.vn/bac-giang-phat-huy-truyen-thong-doan-ket-quan-dan-tu-tam-ao-chien-si-me-va-nam-xua--postid417188.bbg
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