Touching images at the memorial service and burial of 12 martyrs who died in Laos

On May 22nd, at the National Martyrs' Cemetery on Highway 9, the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Council, the Provincial People's Committee, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Quang Tri province solemnly organized a memorial and burial ceremony for 12 remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who sacrificed their lives in Laos.

These are the remains of martyrs collected by the Search and Collection Team for Martyrs' Remains (Team 584), Quang Tri Provincial Military Command, during the 2023-2024 dry season in Savannakhet province (Laos).

Delegates and citizens attending the memorial service observed a minute of silence to remember the heroes and martyrs (Photo: Nhat Anh).

Delegates, citizens, students, and pupils from Quang Tri and Savannakhet provinces respectfully bowed their heads in silence, laid flowers and offered incense, expressing their profound gratitude to the martyrs, the outstanding sons and daughters of the Vietnamese nation who bravely sacrificed their lives for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, for the happiness of the people, and for noble international duties.

Reading the eulogy at the memorial service, Mr. Hoang Nam, Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee, expressed that the Party, the State, and the people are immensely proud and infinitely grateful to the heroes, martyrs, and generations of predecessors and forefathers who sacrificed themselves so that our country could rejoice in independence and the people could live in peace and prosperity.

Delegates bring the remains of fallen soldiers to the burial area (Photo: Nhat Anh).

In keeping with the moral tradition of "Drinking water, remembering the source," and contributing to alleviating the pain and loss of the families of heroic martyrs, over the years, Quang Tri province, together with the Party Committee, government, and people of the Lao ethnic groups and Savanakhet province, has carried out the work of searching for and bringing thousands of remains of martyrs back to their homeland.

The Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Tri province also expressed gratitude for the heartfelt sentiments and enthusiastic assistance of the Party Committee, government, and people of Laos, acknowledging and highly appreciating the selfless work of the officers and soldiers of Team 584, Quang Tri Provincial Military Command.

"This ceremony is the 38th since 1994, once again affirming the affection and responsibility of the Party Committee, government, armed forces, and people of Quang Tri and Savannakhet provinces towards the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives and blood for the independence of the two nations, for the happiness of the people of the two countries, and for the noble international cause," Mr. Nam emphasized.

The remains of the martyrs are interred at the National Martyrs' Cemetery on Highway 9 (Photo: Nhat Anh).

Regarding the search for the remains of martyrs who died in Laos, Lieutenant Colonel Tran Huu Hung, Team Leader of Team 584, said that during the mission, the unit also encountered many difficulties. The information provided by the people was mostly from remote areas, and much of the information was not very accurate.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Hung, during the 2023-2024 dry season, the team searched hundreds of locations in Savannakhet province and unearthed 12 graves of fallen soldiers, all of whom were unidentified in terms of name, age, and hometown.

"With the spirit and responsibility of soldiers searching for fallen soldiers, we always encourage each other, overcome all difficulties, and find every way, at all costs, to bring 'our brothers and sisters' back to their homeland, to their comrades and the Fatherland," Lieutenant Colonel Hung said.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/an-sinh/hinh-anh-xuc-dong-tai-le-truy-dieu-an-tang-12-liet-sy-hy-sinh-tren-dat-lao-20240522121718925.htm