The story of the unsung cemetery caretaker in Huong Son.

Although he hasn't been a caretaker at the Nam Martyrs' Cemetery (in Sinh Co village, Son Chau commune, Huong Son district, Ha Tinh province ) for long, Ho Thanh Hai (born in 1973) feels deeply attached to it and has voluntarily committed to it for the rest of his life…

Nam Martyrs' Cemetery.

I volunteered to write an application to become a cemetery caretaker.

Every day, the slow footsteps, the gentle rustling of bamboo brooms sweeping away fallen leaves, and the quiet hands of Mr. Ho Thanh Hai cutting grass and cleaning graves resonate in the tranquil space of Nam Martyrs' Cemetery (Huong Son). This quiet work seems to bring warmth and comfort to the heroic martyrs resting here.

Every day, Mr. Hai spends most of his time working at the Nam Martyrs' Cemetery.

The Nam Martyrs' Cemetery currently has nearly 1,200 graves of fallen soldiers. Having worked in this field for almost six years, Hai now knows the location of each grave by heart.

Speaking about how he became involved in this job, Mr. Hai shared: “At the beginning of 2018, the caretaker of the Nam Martyrs' Cemetery resigned, and I voluntarily applied for the job. At the time, many relatives were unhappy because I was working as a driver with a fairly stable income, while cemetery caretaker jobs were usually reserved for retirees. However, encouraged by my wife, I accepted the job without hesitation and considered it a destined opportunity. Since then, I have been the caretaker of the Nam Martyrs' Cemetery until now.”

Mr. Hai always personally prepares and takes care of each grave.

Another reason why Hai was determined to become a cemetery caretaker was because his uncle, Ho Quang Huy, a martyr who died in 1973 in the Central Highlands, has yet to be found. He and his family have always hoped that Ho Quang Huy would be commemorated in some cemetery. Therefore, the job of cemetery caretaker has become a way for him and his family to fulfill that wish.

For Hai, the job of cemetery caretaker isn't too tiring, but it requires diligence, meticulousness, and a sense of responsibility and dedication.

Relatives visit the memorial for fallen heroes at Nam Martyrs' Cemetery.

Every year, especially during holidays and the Commemoration Day of War Invalids and Martyrs (July 27th), Nam Martyrs Cemetery welcomes many delegations of officials, individuals, and families of martyrs who come to visit and express their gratitude to the heroic martyrs. On such occasions, Hai's workload increases two or three times compared to normal days. But for him, it is a job to be very proud of; he does it not only out of responsibility but also because of the heart of a cemetery caretaker.

The resting places of the fallen heroes are always carefully looked after.

Hai confided: “I was born during a time when the war against the US was nearing its end, and the Paris Agreement had been signed. Even so, through my parents' stories and the sacrifice of my uncle, I understood the brutality of war and the loss and suffering of those left behind. That brutality stemmed not only from the sacrifices but also from the lingering pain that continues to this day, with millions of martyrs' graves scattered across the country, many of them unmarked.”

I vow to be a cemetery caretaker until my eyesight fails and my legs tremble.

Due to the nature of his work, Mr. Hai spends more time at the cemetery than at home. Days with changing weather, cold rain, or scorching heat are often quite challenging, but for him, these are only temporary difficulties. Above all, he loves this job and wants to dedicate himself to it until his eyesight fails and his legs tremble. "This quiet work gives me moments of peace. I've come to love this job as much as I love protecting and caring for my family," Mr. Hai shared.

The shrine dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh and the heroic martyrs at the Nam Martyrs' Cemetery is carefully looked after by Mr. Hai.

The scorching sun of late July left his shirt drenched in sweat, but he didn't mind; he diligently sat and wiped each tombstone, pulled out each weed to make the cemetery look nicer, or simply prepared the offerings neatly.

Mr. Hai's quiet work at the Nam Martyrs' Cemetery.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thiet (from Pho Chau town, Huong Son district) - a relative of martyr Nguyen Dinh Tu - said: "My brother died in 1979 in the Cambodian battlefield and is laid to rest at Nam Martyrs' Cemetery. Every holiday, my family and I make time to come here to light incense for him. Seeing the clean and tidy grounds of the cemetery, I can only express my gratitude to Mr. Hai and hope he has the health to continue this work."

For those graves with unidentified information and no relatives visiting, Mr. Hai always treats them like family and takes meticulous care of them. He shared: "I am committed to caring for these men as long as I have the strength, and I consider this my greatest happiness. Above all, my motivation for this work is the gratitude and appreciation of future generations for the countless ancestors who fell for the survival of the nation."

Mr. Hai carefully tends to each row of green trees in the cemetery grounds.

Overcoming the criticism and disapproval when he took on the job of cemetery caretaker at a young age, Mr. Hai felt more confident thanks to the support and understanding of his wife and family. Ms. Luu Thi Vy Sen (born in 1979, Mr. Hai's wife) shared: "This job doesn't pay well, and I spend more time at the cemetery than at home, but it's what my husband wanted, so my children and I fully support him. It's also a way to accumulate good karma for our descendants, so we don't hesitate."

The job of cemetery caretaker seems like a destined connection for Hai.

For Mr. Hai, contributing to beautifying this sacred place and helping the relatives of fallen heroes meticulously care for each grave is a happiness that nothing can buy. So that in the future, whenever the relatives of the martyrs visit, they will feel at peace and silently thank the unsung cemetery caretakers...

Van Chung

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/nui-hong-song-la/chuyen-nguoi-quan-trang-tham-lang-o-huong-son/251360.htm