The whole village makes offerings to the martyrs and war invalids day.

QUANG NAM On July 27, every family in Thach Tan village (Tam Thang commune, Tam Ky city) prepares a meal to commemorate relatives who sacrificed for national independence.

More than 5 km from the center of Tam Ky city, Thach Tan village has 262 households, including 59 heroic Vietnamese mothers and 203 martyrs. During the war, from 1965 to 1967, the people here used rudimentary tools to dig the 32 km long Ky Anh tunnel in the sand to hide cadres. In May 1997, the tunnel was recognized as a national historical revolutionary relic.

It has become a custom that on July 27, Ms. Huynh Thi Tu and her children and grandchildren prepare a tray of offerings for her brother, martyr Huynh Xuan, who died in 1969. "Even though I am poor, on War Invalids and Martyrs Day, I still prepare a tray of food or buy fruit to put on the altar to commemorate my brother and others who died for national independence," she said.

Mrs. Tu prepared offerings including fruits, candies, votive paper, betel and areca nuts, wine and food, divided into two trays. She placed one tray in her brother's altar, and the other tray in the yard to worship her aunt and uncle - those who sacrificed their lives in the war.

Ms. Huynh Thi Khoa (right) and her sister Huynh Thi Loan, daughter of martyr Huynh Xuan, currently live in Dak Lak. On July 27, the two women returned to their hometown to pay respects to their father. "Because we live far away, we can only pay respects once every few years. When we can't, we pay respects at our house every July 27," Ms. Khoa said, adding that this is a family tradition.

About 200 meters from Mrs. Tu's house, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc An, son of martyr Nguyen Tri, who died in 1968, had prepared offerings including fruits, candies, rice paper, boiled meat, fried fish, spring rolls, steamed shrimp... and placed them on the table, then poured wine for the ceremony.

"For me, July 27 is an important day. In addition to the individual death anniversaries of each relative, this is a common death anniversary for heroic martyrs," he said, adding that when he is old and weak, he will tell his children and grandchildren to continue the tradition.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Lam (Mr. An's sister) burned incense and placed fruits to prepare an offering for her father. The family had six siblings, but three of them died in the war.

Mrs. Lam is in charge of burning incense for her father. The country is at peace , the government has a system of burning incense for those who have contributed. "Receiving the support money, not only me but also families in Thach Tan prepare offerings on July 27," Mrs. Lam said.

Unlike other villagers who prepare the meal, Mrs. Tran Thi Tho, whose mother is a Vietnamese hero and three relatives are martyrs, prepares fruits, candy, wine, betel and areca nuts to burn incense. "This year, my children are working, so I offer cakes and fruits," she explained.

The memorial house for martyrs was built by the government in the village.

Mr. Huynh Kim Ta, head of Thach Tan village, whose grandmother and mother were heroic Vietnamese mothers and whose father, brother and sister were martyrs, said that on July 27, he came here to burn incense to remember the deceased.

"Recently, Tam Thang industrial park was formed, the children in the village went to work, so many families switched to worshiping on July 26 or on Saturday and Sunday to gather all their children and grandchildren," said Mr. Ta.

Quang Nam has more than 65,000 cadres and soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the two resistance wars against France and the US, over 30,000 people with lifelong disabilities, 6,000 people who participated in the resistance and their children were exposed to toxic chemicals. This is also the province with the most heroic Vietnamese mothers in the country, with 15,298 mothers.

Vnexpress.net