Under the flag of Truong Sa

In Truong Sa, the national flag represents the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland, is the "compass", is the motivation for each soldier to move forward, ready to sacrifice everything for the Fatherland of Vietnam.

For anyone, being able to go to Truong Sa and see the national flag fluttering at the top of the waves is a source of pride. We were fortunate to have that when accompanying the working delegation of Naval Region 4 to visit and wish a Happy New Year to the officers, soldiers, and people who are performing their duties and living in Truong Sa archipelago on the occasion of the Year of the Dragon 2024.

Ready to sacrifice for the Fatherland

During the voyage, ship 571 took the working group to Co Lin Island. Big waves hit the ship when it was anchored about 3 nautical miles from the island.

Waiting for the tide to rise to cross the coral reef, canoes and small boats were quickly lowered to bring people and goods to the island. The small boats were towed by canoes, weaving through the waves and wind, sometimes big waves overtook the boats, extremely fragile and dangerous.

As soon as we set foot on Co Lin Island, the first impression that was probably imprinted in everyone’s mind was the image of the national flag flying proudly under the deep blue sky. We were moved to silence when our minds recalled the heroic history - the Gac Ma incident in 1988, where 64 Vietnamese People’s Navy soldiers were left forever in the deep sea to protect the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland.

Young soldiers on Truong Sa archipelago perform art, praising the sea and islands of the Fatherland

That page of history will forever show the image of soldiers tightly holding the national flag amidst artillery fire, creating the "Immortal Circle" of Gac Ma. Lieutenant Tran Van Phuong, Deputy Commander of Gac Ma Island, was shot down, but still held the national flag tightly.

Lieutenant Colonel Duong Chi Nguyen - Deputy Chief of Politics of Brigade 146, Naval Region 4 - said that the words of Heroic Martyr, Lieutenant Tran Van Phuong at that time: "Do not retreat. Let your blood color the national flag and the glorious tradition of the Navy", is an advice for many generations today. "For naval soldiers, accepting the mission to Truong Sa archipelago is accepting the mission of fighting. Once on board, it is considered as going to war, there is no turning back. Only return when the mission is completed or when you have sacrificed" - Lieutenant Colonel Duong Chi Nguyen affirmed.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen, during his business trips to Truong Sa archipelago, he witnessed many times officers and soldiers who had just boarded the ship leaving the port when they received news of the death of a relative. However, they still had to be resilient, suppress the pain of loss to stand side by side with their comrades, firmly holding their guns to protect the sea and islands.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen also said that in Truong Sa, the national flag represents the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland, is the "compass", the motivation, the command from the heart, for each soldier to move forward, ready to sacrifice, fight to protect the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Releasing the national flag in front of the Co Lin island sea, commemorating the 64 heroic martyrs of the Gac Ma battle

And in the flag-raising ceremony at the beginning of the year on the islands of Truong Sa, Song Tu Tay, Sinh Ton, Co Lin..., perhaps the most beautiful and touching image is the image of a solemn navy soldier kneeling down, respectfully kissing the military flag (the national flag embroidered with the two words Quyết Thắng). Immediately after that, the soldier's voice loudly recited the 10 honorary oaths of a soldier, with the sound of "I swear" resounding in unison, drowning out the sound of the waves. That is an iron-clad commitment, a motivation for officers and soldiers to overcome all hardships, successfully completing the task of protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

That sacred commitment was also sent along with the red national flag, tears of love and pride, along with hundreds of paper cranes, symbols of peace that officers, soldiers, and reporters on ship 571 stayed up all night to fold and release into the waves of Truong Sa, during the memorial ceremony for 64 heroic martyrs of Gac Ma, in front of the sea areas of Co Lin, Len Dao, Gac Ma.

Oath of Honor

On Da Dong Island, under the scorching sun, amidst the whistling salty winds, a soldier with a dark face, sweat streaming down his face, still solemnly stood guard with his gun. Moved by that image, journalist Phi Hoang Le, VOV online newspaper, took off his scarf to give it to him. That soldier - Major Le Gia Dung said: "I am on duty now, I cannot put down my gun for even a second, not a minute. Please put it in the warehouse, I will receive it when my shift is over"!

Journalist Phi Hoang Le asked to take a picture. Major Le Gia Dung said in a low voice that he was afraid that if the picture was published in the newspaper, his wife and children back home would see it and feel heartbroken and miss him.

Navy soldiers march during the flag-raising ceremony on Truong Sa Island. Photo: HOANG ANH

For officers and soldiers in Truong Sa, they must put aside their personal feelings to wholeheartedly fulfill their noble duty. They are ready to sacrifice their personal happiness, firmly holding their guns to protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Tho, Deputy Brigade Commander of Brigade 146 - Naval Region 4, affirmed that each officer and soldier always upholds the spirit of training, is ready to fight, and fulfills the sacred responsibility assigned by the Party, State and people.

Many emotions during the 18-day voyage, bringing the mainland's affection to the officers, soldiers and people performing their duties and living on Truong Sa archipelago.

And in our hearts, we know that the emotions during the flag-raising ceremonies in Truong Sa will never fade. Because the "soul" of the flag-raising ceremony is the steadfast love for the sea and islands, the gratitude and love for the Fatherland of the Navy soldiers. Lieutenant Colonel Duong Chi Nguyen shared: "The heroic tradition, the sacrifices and great contributions of previous generations are always reminded in the sacred flag-raising ceremonies on the islands. So that today's generation of soldiers can cultivate love and responsibility, forge an iron will, and always stand firm at the forefront of the storm."

We "verified" that when we met soldier Chau Van Hien on Co Lin island. He was discharged from the army and returned to his hometown after 2 years of military service. He was supposed to have time off to prepare his belongings, but he was eager to carry his gun and stand guard at the foot of the waves, until the last minute. After finishing his shift, when the boat was about to leave the island, the Truong Sa soldier was moved to tears, handing over his hat, gun, and binoculars to his comrades with a tight hug and the words: "Stay and do your job well!".

At the moment of seeing the delegation off to the mainland, Senior Lieutenant Tran Quoc Cuong, Political Commissar of Co Lin Island, solemnly signed and stamped the island's seal on the wind-faded national flag for the demobilized soldiers to take back to their homeland.

And each day that passes, new national flags are hung on all the islands in Truong Sa. Under the flags is the image of soldiers firmly defending sovereignty, faithful to their oath of honor: Sacrificing everything for the Fatherland Vietnam!

Invite readers to participate in 2 contests

At the award ceremony of the 4th "Inviolable National Sovereignty" writing contest and the 3rd "Sacred National Flag" photo contest, 2023-2024, on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the implementation of the "Proud of the National Flag" program, taking place on July 2, Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper launched the 5th "Inviolable National Sovereignty" writing contest and the 4th "Sacred National Flag" photo contest, 2024-2025.

The Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper invites readers who are Vietnamese citizens living in Vietnam and abroad, and foreigners living in Vietnam to participate in writing articles and sending photos to the contest. The deadline for launching, receiving articles and photos is from July 2, 2024 to May 31, 2025. Readers scan the QR code or visit https://nld.com.vn/phat-dong-cuoc-thi-viet-chu-quyen-quoc-gia-bat-kha-xam-pham-va-cuoc-thi-anh-thieng-lieng-co-to-quoc-196240701163723125.htm to see details about the conditions and rules of the two contests.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/cuoc-thi-viet-chu-quyen-quoc-gia-bat-kha-xam-pham-duoi-bong-co-truong-sa-196240824175342091.htm