Offering incense to commemorate and pay tribute to the martyrs of Gac Ma.

VHO - On the morning of March 14th, at Nai Nam communal house (Hoa Cuong ward, Da Nang city), the Liaison Committee of the Truong Sa Soldiers of Da Nang City from 1984-1988 organized a ceremony to offer incense and pay tribute to the 64 martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the battle to defend Gac Ma island 38 years ago (March 14, 1988 - March 14, 2026).

Nai Nam Temple is where a memorial plaque is placed to commemorate the local heroes and martyrs from various periods. The stone plaque bears the names of 10 sons of Da Nang who sacrificed their lives in the battle to defend Gac Ma Island in 1988 – a historical milestone reflecting the unwavering and indomitable spirit in fighting to protect the sacred sovereignty of the nation's maritime territory.

Offering incense to commemorate the 64 martyrs of Gac Ma.

At the ceremony, representatives of the local government, organizations, relatives of martyrs, and a large number of students from Dong A University respectfully offered incense in remembrance, expressing their deep gratitude to those who fell for the sovereignty of the sea and islands.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Tan, Head of the Liaison Committee of the Truong Sa Soldiers in Da Nang City from 1984-1988, exactly 38 years ago, on March 14, 1988, 64 officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Navy bravely sacrificed their lives at Gac Ma reef.

The soldiers fell with unwavering resolve, their hands clutching the national flag, determined to protect every inch of land and every stretch of sea inherited from their ancestors. Among those 64 martyrs, 10 sons of Da Nang will forever rest in the vast ocean.

"Thirty-eight years have passed, but the memory of Gac Ma has never faded. The spirit of fighting to the death to protect maritime sovereignty remains a flame passed down from generation to generation," Mr. Tan emphasized.

The students chatted with and inquired about the health of the family members of the Gac Ma martyrs.

Also at the ceremony, Dong A University awarded 10 grants to the families of martyrs who sacrificed their lives on Gac Ma Island, each worth 1 million VND. This is the 13th consecutive year the university has participated in the series of activities commemorating Gac Ma.

The support packages were given to the families of fallen soldiers: Nguyen Huu Loc, Truong Quoc Hung, Phan Van Su, Nguyen Phu Doan, Le Van Xanh, Tran Manh Viet, Pham Van Loi, Tran Tai, Le The, and Nguyen Ba Cuong.

Associate Professor Dr. Dinh Thanh Viet, Vice Rector of Dong A University, believes that the Gac Ma tribute activities are a vivid history lesson, helping today's generation of students to understand more deeply the patriotic tradition, the unwavering will to protect the homeland, and the value of peace.

"Through this, students become even more aware of their responsibility to study, train, and contribute to their homeland and country," he said.

Presenting gifts of gratitude to the relatives of Gac Ma martyrs.

Ms. Tran Hoang Em, Secretary of the Youth Union of Dong A University, also shared that for the past 13 years, the teachers and students of the university have always been involved in activities to honor the martyrs of Gac Ma. For students, directly offering incense and listening to stories about the "circle of immortality" from the relatives of the martyrs is a way to better understand the value of gratitude and responsibility to the country.

For many years, Dong A University has also been one of the institutions actively organizing activities focused on the country's islands and seas. From the very beginning of their studies, students have been educated about gratitude and civic responsibility through films and images of those who have fallen for the sacred sovereignty of the nation.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/doi-song/dang-huong-tuong-niem-tri-an-liet-si-gac-ma-211510.html