The revolutionary historical site of Mother Tom's house - a place that inspires patriotic pride in today's generation.
One roof, one revolutionary fire
Mother Tom, whose real name was Nguyen Thi Quyen (1880-1953), was from Hanh Cat village, Da Loc commune (now Dong Thanh village, Van Loc commune) and was a poor farmer who lived through difficult times. Her family was poor, her husband was a basket weaver, her children were street barbers to make a living, but hidden behind the simple thatched roof and bamboo walls was a solid “revolutionary fortress”.
When the Ngoc Trao guerrilla base was broken (1941-1942), the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee temporarily chose Tom's mother's house as a place to hide, print newspapers, hold meetings and make secret contacts. Tom's mother's husband wove baskets in the yard to observe movements; Tom's mother carried vegetables to the market, under the vegetables were documents and leaflets to print the newspaper "Chasing the enemy". The two children, So and Hau, brought hair cutting tools and worked as revolutionary liaisons along the Nga Son, Hoang Hoa and Ha Trung areas at that time.
In that house, poet To Huu, who was then a secret agent, wrote and published the newspaper “Chasing the Enemies”. Important meetings of the Provincial Party Committee were also held here with the presence of comrades: Le Tat Dac, Hoang Tien Trinh, Hoang Xung Phong... The thatched house by the sea became the nerve center in the middle of a pristine white sand area.
But then the base was exposed. In 1944, secret police raided and arrested, brutally beating the couple and their two children. Mr. So and Mr. Hau were imprisoned in Thanh Hoa prison, tortured and whipped, but still kept their faith, not revealing a word. They were released in April 1945, and the two brothers returned to the organization, preparing for the August Uprising. A small house, a poor family, but that was the place that nurtured a "fire" for the Vietnamese revolution.
“Red address” fosters tradition
After peace , those silent contributions were respectfully recognized by the Party and the State. Mother Tom's family was awarded the "Certificate of Merit to the Nation" and the "Fatherland's Gratitude" commemorative medal by the Prime Minister. The two sons were awarded the title "Imprisoned Revolutionary Cadre". In 2009, the house was recognized as a provincial historical revolutionary relic.
From a thatched roof house on a sand dune, Mother Tom's house has now become a spiritual destination and a place for profound traditional education . In an area of nearly 700 square meters, the three-room house is roofed with bright red tiles, covered with green trees, spacious but still retains its old appearance. The poem "Mother Tom" written by poet To Huu after his return in 1961, is solemnly printed on the wall. In 2022, Mother Tom's mausoleum was renovated with an area of 1,300 square meters, becoming a place of remembrance and gratitude.
These days of July, people from all over quietly return. In the simple souvenir room, Mr. Vu Ngoc Ro (65 years old) - grandson of Mother Tom - youngest son of Mr. Vu Duc Hau cherishes an old wooden box containing a set of barber tools, earthenware jars, and rice chests that used to feed cadres more than 80 years ago. "This is not only a family heirloom but also a part of the history of the homeland," said Mr. Ro. Recently, the statue of "Mother Tom" donated by the Thanh Hoa Association of Artists and Journalists in Hanoi has also been placed in a prominent place in the house, as a symbol of immortal spirit.
Not only a tourist destination, Mother Tom's memorial house is also a place where descendants of the family and local people come back to on big holidays. Every step back to the source is a time to listen to old memories through the stories of relatives, of Mr. Ro - the grandson who still preserves each relic and memory of a glorious time. Stories about meals of rice mixed with potatoes, about Mother Tom carrying vegetables to hide documents, about two children getting haircuts to work as liaisons... are not only remembered in words but also passed down with respect and emotion in the eyes of today's generation. That is what makes Mother Tom's house not only a relic, but a part of the flesh and blood, the soul of the people, where traditions are constantly continued in very simple and sacred ways.
Light up patriotism
Not only is it a place to preserve the past, Mother Tom’s house is also a “red address” for effective and lively traditional education. Extracurricular activities, gratitude ceremonies, and thematic activities of students, union members, and young cadres all choose this place as their destination, to experience the revolutionary atmosphere in everyday life.
Teacher Dao Thanh Huong, who has been with Da Loc Secondary School for nearly 30 years, emotionally shared: “I often bring students here on major holidays such as February 3, July 27, September 2. Not only do I tell historical stories, I also help them imagine that right on their homeland, there was once a simple family that silently sacrificed for national independence. They can touch the relics with their own hands, see with their own eyes every corner of the house, where an old mother once stayed up all night to guard the cadres.” That is how teacher Huong instills patriotism and true pride in his students’ souls, not through slogans, but through real emotions from real land.
Sharing about the role of the relic, Mr. Le Ngoc Hung, Chairman of Van Loc Commune People's Committee, said: "We consider this a spiritual symbol of the whole commune. The government regularly organizes propaganda and gratitude activities, integrating traditional education into community life, so that the value of the relic does not lie dormant but spreads strongly."
The war has ended, Mother Tom and her loved ones have passed away, but the revolutionary “fire” that was ignited from that roof still “burns” in the hearts of the people here. In the hearts of generations of Thanh people, Mother Tom is still a living symbol of indomitable spirit, loyalty and loyalty.
Article and photos: Tran Hang
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/di-tich-lich-su-cach-mang-nha-me-tom-noi-thap-lua-long-yeu-nuoc-255976.htm
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