Symbol of humanity and resurrection

- Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Tien, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association:

Humane and meaningful decision

The Covid-19 pandemic outbreak is a period of great pain and loss for humanity, and at the same time a challenging time and the clearest demonstration of the spirit of solidarity and affection of the Vietnamese people in general and the people of Ho Chi Minh City in particular.

Pregnant women attend the closing ceremony of the program "Accompanying the birth" organized by SGGP Newspaper during the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: DUNG PHUONG

Since the end of 2021, the construction of the Memorial for Covid-19 victims and honoring the white-shirt soldiers and the kind hearts of the people has been of interest to all levels of Ho Chi Minh City leaders, with a policy of implementation. The Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City has coordinated with the Fine Arts Association, the Architectural Association, and the Union of Literature and Arts Associations of Ho Chi Minh City to survey many locations, but has not yet selected a truly suitable space. Currently, the leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee have agreed to choose land plot No. 1 Ly Thai To Street to implement the plan to build a Symbol to recognize the solidarity and unity of Ho Chi Minh City people to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic, with the message: From loss to rapid revival - Gratitude for the spirit of solidarity and unity - A reminder for the future. This is a very humane and meaningful decision.

The project is not only a memorial, but also aims to create a living space - where every citizen can find pride, empathy, sharing, love and profound lessons for the future. The project will also become a cultural space - beautiful landscape, serving the spiritual life of the people, contributing to creating an aesthetic highlight for the city and a meeting place, visiting for people and tourists from near and far.

- Meritorious physician, MD-CKII TRAN VAN KHANH, Director of Le Van Thinh Hospital:

Gratitude for the city's affection

When the fourth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic broke out in mid-2021, Ho Chi Minh City became the largest epidemic center in the country. In that life-and-death battle, Le Van Thinh Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City was assigned a special responsibility: to be in charge of a field hospital system with a scale of more than 6,500 beds. During those days, Ho Chi Minh City seemed to stop breathing. Thousands of patients were transferred every day, hundreds of cases became severe and many people died forever. In that pain, the hospital was not only a place of treatment but also a temporary home for strangers - lonely elderly people, children who lost their parents, workers stuck in the middle of the blockade. Every smile, every word of encouragement for the sick contained the spiritual strength of the people of Saigon - affectionate, kind and resilient.

The Symbolic Project, recognizing the joint efforts and unity of Ho Chi Minh City people to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic, has the meaning of expressing gratitude to the forces participating in the prevention and control of the pandemic; commemorating those who died due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and at the same time, is a symbol of promoting people's strength and unity to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic, which Ho Chi Minh City continues to strongly promote in the recovery and socio- economic development in the present and the future.

- Ms. DO KY VAN, resident of neighborhood 13, Tan Son Hoa ward (HCMC):

Cherish the present and be grateful for the past

I fully agree and support the policy of the leaders of Ho Chi Minh City in building a memorial statue for the victims of the Covid-19 pandemic at land plot No. 1 Ly Thai To Street (Vuon Lai Ward, Ho Chi Minh City). This is not only an architectural work of artistic value, but also a symbol of profound humanistic value that deserves respect and remembrance, to commemorate the great losses that the city in particular and people across the country in general have experienced during the pandemic.

Ho Chi Minh City is the epicenter of the country, a place that has marked painful but also extremely resilient moments. There have been countless losses, countless families separated, doctors, nurses, and frontline forces who have silently sacrificed for the community. This monument will be a sacred tribute to them - the people who have contributed to writing a resilient history of the city. At the same time, this is also a way to educate future generations about a humane historical event. Recording that memory with a symbol in the heart of the city is extremely beautiful in the eyes and hearts of the people of Ho Chi Minh City, very necessary to remind us to cherish the peaceful present and be grateful for the past.

- Ms. NGUYEN HOANG KIM NGAN, Captain of the 911 Volunteer Traffic Rescue Team, Ho Chi Minh City:

Fully depicting the sentiment

The implementation of the Symbol recognizing the solidarity and unity of the city's people in overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic is a policy with profound humanistic meaning, expressing gratitude for the silent contributions and pride in the solidarity of the city's people during difficult times. The green space surrounding the symbol is also an important highlight, contributing to improving the spiritual life of the people.

In my opinion, this project is not only an architectural symbol, but also a living memory space, where people come to commemorate, to remind and educate the younger generation about tradition. Ho Chi Minh City's youth can proudly introduce to friends at home and abroad a city of love, solidarity, and willingness to overcome all challenges. In particular, inviting people to contribute their opinions to the symbol is a meaningful way, demonstrating the city's spirit of "taking people as the root". When a project is formed from the people's feelings, memories and consensus, it will carry the breath of life, soul and identity of Ho Chi Minh City, surpassing its purely architectural or artistic value.

PV GROUP recorded

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/bieu-tuong-cua-tinh-nguoi-va-su-hoi-sinh-post821730.html