"Uncle Ho is forever in my heart"

These days, Mr. Duc is struggling to write about his feelings for beloved Uncle Ho. For him, Uncle Ho is always in his heart. In the story, he tells many memories of receiving gifts from Uncle Ho, doing meaningful things to remember the beloved father of the nation.

Mr. Tran Van Duc especially recalled the two times he met and received gifts from Uncle Ho. For him, this was not only an honor and pride for himself, but also a motivation for him to always put his trust and expectations in the Party, the State and Uncle Ho.

“I am not showing off what I have, but what I want to show is my responsibility to my family and society when talking about Uncle Ho. He is still there, forever in my heart,” Mr. Tran Van Duc expressed. And then, the story of meeting Uncle Ho twice, receiving gifts from him twice, followed the emotions that welled up in him...

He said, in April 1961, I was in class 4A, Ly Tu Trong School (Hanoi). That afternoon, after my family finished eating, I took the dishes down to wash in the kitchen of the collective dining room of the Central Medical Cadres Training School (138 Giang Vo, Dong Da, Hanoi). At that time, I saw a beautiful gold-plated Vi-co-le wristwatch of Ms. Tam, which the cafeteria manager took off to wash her hands and forgot on the lid of the water tank. I immediately took it home and told my mother: I forgot to take the watch of Ms. Tam, I will take it home and put it away. Later, if the teacher comes to ask, you can give it back to her, then continue washing the dishes.

I was washing dishes when I saw Ms. Tam park her bike and run towards me in a panic, asking: Have you seen my watch that I left here? I said yes, then went to get the watch and gave it back to Ms. Tam.

Ms. Tam patted my head and said: You are very good, very obedient. Then she reported the matter to the Party Committee, the Board of Directors, and the Union of the Central Medical Cadre Training School.

I remember clearly, on the evening of Saturday, May 15, 1961, which was also the anniversary of the founding of the Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneers Team, the school's Trade Union coordinated with the Executive Committee of the Women's Union and the Executive Committee of the Youth Union to organize a meeting, inviting all children of school staff and workers to gather in the hall.

Mr. Nguyen Van Vien, Chairman of the School Union, presided. He said: Duc picked up Ms. Tam's watch and gave it back to her. He followed Uncle Ho's 5 teachings. Other children should follow Duc's example and not be greedy to take other people's things and forget or drop them. With the approval of the Party Committee, the Board of Directors, the School Union, the Executive Committee of the Women's Union, and the Youth Union, I, on behalf of Duc, presented the "Good Child of Uncle Ho" certificate and the Union's award. At this time, everyone in the hall applauded enthusiastically.

On the occasion of International Children's Day on June 1st that year, Uncle Chan, Principal of the Central Medical Cadre Training School, told Uncle Khoi to drive me to the Thong Nhat Club to attend the ceremony. He took me to sit behind the row of delegates. A moment later, I saw Uncle Ho enter with the following uncles: Ton Duc Thang, Pham Van Dong, Vo Nguyen Giap, poet To Huu and went to the front of the stage to wave to the children.

Mr. Tran Van Duc was moved: Uncle Ho was like a fairy, with white hair and beard, bright eyes, and a gentle smile. He wore a faded khaki suit and rubber sandals. He wished you all good health, to study hard and well so that in the future our country could stand shoulder to shoulder with the world powers. Be obedient to your parents, listen to your teachers, be friendly and united with your friends, and follow Uncle Ho's five teachings.

Uncle led us to sing the songs “Solidarity” and “Liberation of the South”. The uncles and aunts in charge of the Thong Nhat Club led us to sing the song “Who loves Uncle Ho Chi Minh more than children”, then went to give out candy to the children.

I saw Uncle Ho also take some candy packages from the uncles and aunts to give to the children sitting behind the row of delegates. And I was also given a package by Uncle Ho. This sacred memory will always be in my heart.

Then I had the opportunity to attend the first “Uncle Ho’s Good Children” summer camp in Sam Son, Thanh Hoa organized by the Central Youth Union. Here, we had a lot of fun singing and playing. I still remember the songs “Sam Son, We” and “The Beautiful Sea of My Hometown”. On the full moon of that year, Uncle Khoi also drove me to Thong Nhat Club.

I went to meet the club’s organizing committee and the uncles and aunts there arranged for me to sit behind the row of delegates. Then Uncle Ho appeared again like a fairy with Uncle Pham Van Dong and Vo Nguyen Giap. Like the last time, Uncle Ho led us to sing the songs “Solidarity” and “Liberation of the South”. The uncles and aunts of the Thong Nhat Club led us to sing the songs “Who loves Uncle Ho Chi Minh more than children” and gave out candy.

I was given a gift package by Uncle Ho again. So, I was honored to receive gifts from Uncle Ho twice. Uncle Ho always cared for, advised, and taught the students in the South as well as the Southern cadres who often came here to participate in activities to always be united, love, and help each other; try to study hard, practice and cultivate revolutionary ethics, improve cultural level and knowledge; contribute to building socialism in the North and fight together to liberate the South and unify the country so that Uncle Ho could visit his compatriots, soldiers, and young people in the South...

At 75 years old, his memory may gradually fade, but in his heart, Mr. Tran Van Duc never forgets Uncle Ho's teachings. He always shows his affection for Uncle Ho by collecting and preserving articles and artifacts related to him. These are articles written about him, about the 30th anniversary of the Party's founding on February 3, about the revolutionary path or Uncle Ho's New Year greeting cards, the Certificate of Merit that Uncle Ho gave to his father, Mr. Tran Van Khoa. Even the bandage that his father wore to mourn Uncle Ho... is also cherished and preserved by him until today. To him, all are sacred memories, showing his respect for Uncle Ho, his appreciation for the Party and the State.

Mr. Tran Van Duc is one of the people who have made many important contributions in collecting and donating relics related to Uncle Ho to the Thua Thien Hue History Museum and the Ho Chi Minh Museum of Thua Thien Hue province. For him, it is a responsibility, a way to show his affection for beloved Uncle Ho.

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