COVID-19 Memorial: Having a place to say thank you is enough to warm the heart

Đài tưởng niệm nạn nhân COVID-19: Có chỗ để nói lời cảm ơn, vậy là đủ ấm lòng - Ảnh 1. — Military Hospital 175 "split" the ECMO machine to save the life of a pregnant woman with critical COVID-19 - Photo: Military Hospital 175

The COVID-19 Victim Memorial Project continues to receive attention from Tuoi Tre newspaper readers, who have sent many practical comments.

Memorial: a place to feel lighter

COVID-19 has caused many families to lose loved ones. Years have passed, but in their hearts there are still gaps and lingering pain.

Reader Ton - one of those who suffered such loss - sent his opinion to Tuoi Tre : "My father died of COVID-19. I never had a chance to say goodbye. Hearing that there is a memorial place, I feel like I have a place to send my memories, to make my heart feel lighter."

Đài tưởng niệm - Ảnh 2. — Medical staff work during the COVID-19 outbreak

Duyen said: "Many people say that just remembering in your heart is enough, but I think having a place to go, to be quiet for a few minutes, is also a way to help you let go and be more grateful for life."

Anonymous reader also had the same feeling when reading Professor Huynh Van Son's article commenting on the COVID-19 Victims Memorial project in Tuoi Tre newspaper:

“I read it with tears in my eyes. Thinking of the days when Saigon was silent, every house had someone who died. Having a place to light incense and say thank you was enough to warm my heart.”

Hnnhan said: “This city has gone through war, storms, floods, and epidemics. Every milestone needs memories. Commemoration is to preserve the Vietnamese morality of ‘remembering the source of water when drinking’.”

Tran Van Toan shares the same thought: “I really find this project very meaningful and humane. Because future generations also need to know that our people and soldiers fought in a fierce war with the enemy in peacetime. Those sacrifices and contributions must be recorded and remembered forever.”

Invite people nationwide to contribute ideas for the COVID-19 Victims Memorial Project in Ho Chi Minh City

Remind to live resiliently, love and heal together

Reader Bich Loan told Tuoi Tre that she was once on the front line and witnessed many losses, so Bich Loan affirmed: "A memorial is not only for the deceased, but also to heal the living."

Huyhappy also said: “It is not just a memorial, but a symbol of humanity, kindness and gratitude. A place that reminds us to live more resiliently, to love and heal together.”

Reader Minh Hoang thinks about the concept of 'collective memory' in social psychology: "A city only truly matures when it knows how to stop to commemorate, to not forget what made it stronger."

Some readers suggested turning the COVID-19 Victims Memorial into a spiritual space for study.

As reader Minh commented: “I am particularly impressed with the idea of turning the park into a ‘spiritual space for learning and loving’. It is not only a place to remember the tragic past, but also a ‘promise’ of a more kind and sharing future.

If there is an additional community education area on anti-epidemic lessons, this will be a valuable legacy, helping the next generation understand the power of solidarity! Let's support this idea to soon become a reality."

“I hope this place will be built not only as a memorial for COVID-19 victims and a place to show gratitude to those who fought the epidemic, but also as a place to open special classes for children orphaned by COVID-19 in the city. This is a bridge for volunteers to help support children in difficult circumstances until they grow up,” said Nguyen Phong Phu.