Bring the remains of fallen soldiers back home as soon as possible and ensure they are called by their rightful names.

VTV.vn - The campaign "500 days and nights of intensified efforts to search for, collect, and identify the remains of fallen soldiers" is entering its peak phase nationwide.

This is a meaningful activity commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Day of War Invalids and Martyrs. The high determination from units and localities is not only a professional duty, but also the fulfillment of "commands from the heart," because there are still approximately 175,000 remains of martyrs yet to be found and over 300,000 graves of martyrs whose identities remain unknown. This is a source of anguish for many families and a concern for the Party, State, Army, and People.

The Tay Trang border gate in Dien Bien province – where the remains of Vietnamese martyrs and military experts who sacrificed their lives in Laos finally touched the homeland after more than half a century. Their return was warm and embraced by the people and their comrades.

Mr. Do Xuan Manh (a relative of martyr Nguyen Thanh Nhien from Hung Yen province) shared: "This is the greatest happiness for our family after many years of searching without success. Before my parents passed away, their burning desire was to find news so we could bring our brothers and sisters home. Now, we have officially found them."

During the 2025-2026 dry season, search and recovery teams found and recovered 974 remains of fallen soldiers.

Major General Nguyen Hong Thai (Deputy Political Commissar of Military Region 2) said: "To find these 9 remains of fallen soldiers, the team traveled to 126 villages in 6 provinces of Northern Laos, and in many places there were no roads, requiring a 1 to 2-day walk to reach the deployment and search location."

Since the end of the wars, with the concerted efforts of the entire political system to search for, collect, and identify the remains of fallen soldiers, the obvious and easily accomplished tasks have been completed. The remaining work is far more difficult.

The "500-day campaign to intensify the search, collection, and identification of the remains of fallen soldiers" sets a specific goal: to strive to find and collect 7,000 remains of fallen soldiers and identify approximately 18,000 remains.

"The mission must be completed. If an increase in the search team is needed, I will report to the Standing Committee and request an increase. The same applies to demining; we must carry it out. Even if it's difficult, we must do it to alleviate the suffering of families who have not yet found the remains of their fallen soldiers," emphasized General Phan Văn Giang (Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense).

The central figure in the famous photograph "A victorious smile beside the Quang Tri Citadel," Mr. Le Xuan Chinh, placed his full faith that many more comrades would return home.

War invalid Le Xuan Chinh (Thanh Yen commune, Dien Bien province) said: "Shortly after burying them, bombs and bullets dug up the ground again. It's heartbreaking. I'm very happy that the Party and the State have launched a 500-day and night campaign to search for the remains of the martyrs. They will be reunited with their comrades."

After two months of launching, the campaign is kindling hope in many families, as search and recovery teams have already found and recovered 974 remains of fallen soldiers during the 2025-2026 dry season alone.

The process of collecting biological samples from the remains of unidentified martyrs for DNA testing is being simultaneously implemented in many localities. Beyond mere statistics, this is concrete evidence of the utmost determination and effort to ensure that these martyrs are brought home and given their rightful names.

Source: https://vtv.vn/dua-liet-si-som-tro-ve-va-duoc-goi-dung-ten-100260602231341805.htm