Inauguration of the Memorial Site where 16 youth volunteers died at Long Dai ferry terminal

Party, State and local leaders cut the ribbon to inaugurate the project to restore the memorial site where 16 youth volunteers died (September 1972) at Long Dai ferry.

Attending the ceremony were Party Central Committee members: Tran Quang Phuong, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly; Nguyen Van Hung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Le Ngoc Quang, Secretary of the Quang Tri Provincial Party Committee; representatives of central ministries and branches; provinces and cities nationwide; comrades and relatives of 16 youth volunteers who sacrificed their lives at Long Dai II ferry terminal and a large number of local people.

Long Dai ferry, now in Truong Ninh commune, Quang Tri province, during the years of resistance war against America to save the country, was a fierce focal point, connecting the great northern rear with the southern battlefield.

Facing the rain of bombs and bullets, the youth volunteers still steadfastly held their positions, maintaining the strategic support line with the spirit of "Live by clinging to the bridge, by clinging to the road - Die steadfastly and bravely".

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Quang Phuong and Secretary of the Quang Tri Provincial Party Committee Le Ngoc Quang offered incense to commemorate martyrs on the Long Dai River.

The most tragic was the heroic sacrifice of 16 officers and soldiers of the C130 Youth Volunteer Company, from Thai Binh, now Hung Yen province, in September 1972 at Long Dai II ferry. During the fierce bombings on September 19 and 23, 1972, 16 soldiers (7 women, 9 men) fell while on duty transporting and clearing the way to maintain the bloodline of support for the battlefield.

That sacrifice has become an immortal symbol of the spirit of "Determination to die for the Fatherland", so that today, Long Dai ferry is forever a "red address" in the journey of gratitude and education of revolutionary traditions for the young generation.

In 2012, the Memorial House here was built to commemorate the heroic sacrifice of the martyrs.

Delegates attending the inauguration ceremony.

Faced with the urgent need to preserve and restore the relic, while also responding to the deep aspirations of the people, former youth volunteers and relatives of martyrs, the Standing Committee of the Quang Tri Provincial Youth Union has proactively advised on the development of a plan to upgrade and restore the project, and submitted it to the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee for consideration and approval for implementation.

With a sense of community responsibility and deep gratitude for the noble sacrifices of previous generations, T&T Group Joint Stock Company, along with businesses and individuals, actively accompanied and provided comprehensive support from contributing all financial resources, planning, design to construction and completion of the memorial site where 16 young volunteers sacrificed their lives in a synchronous, spacious and sustainable manner.

The project was implemented with a total investment of nearly 20 billion VND, including many important items. The highlight is the newly built memorial with a design simulating the shape of a sheaf of rice consisting of 16 ears, 16m high, placed on a star-shaped pedestal, creating a sacred symbol to commemorate the 16 heroic youth volunteers who sacrificed their lives.

The ceremonial-documentary house has an area of over 200m², designed in the traditional architecture of a 5-room house, serving as a place to welcome delegates and a space to display historical documents and artifacts. The two waiting rooms and the boat dock were built spaciously, in harmony with the landscape and enhancing the solemnity of the project.

Armed Forces Hero Le Huu Trac attended the ceremony.

In addition, the space for displaying documents and artifacts is equipped with modern technological equipment such as: visual simulation sand table system, documentary projector and especially touch kiosk to look up information about relics..., helping visitors easily access information in a vivid, accurate and attractive way.

Recently, the historical site “Long Dai II Ferry Terminal” - the place where 16 young volunteers died (September 1072), in Truong Ninh commune, Quang Tri province, was ranked as a national monument by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. That contributes to connecting this site with other “red addresses”, forming a cultural-historical tourism route in the heroic homeland of Quang Tri.

HUONG GIANG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/khanh-thanh-khu-tuong-niem-noi-hy-sinh-cua-16-thanh-nien-xung-phong-tai-ben-pha-long-dai-post909081.html