Inauguration of the Memorial Site where 16 Youth Volunteers died at Long Dai Ferry Terminal

On the morning of September 19, the People's Committee of Quang Tri province held an inauguration ceremony to renovate the Memorial Site where 16 Youth Volunteers died at Long Dai Ferry (Truong Ninh Commune).

Attending the ceremony were Mr. Tran Quang Phuong, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly; Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr. Le Ngoc Quang, Secretary of the Quang Tri Provincial Party Committee. Also attending were Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong, leaders of Quang Tri, Ha Tinh and Hung Yen provinces; representatives of departments, branches and sectors and veterans, relatives of 16 Youth Volunteers of Company C130 who sacrificed their lives at Long Dai Ferry Terminal II.

Delegates attending the ceremony (Photo: baoquangtri.vn).

During the years of resistance war against the US to save the country, Long Dai ferry was a fierce focal point, connecting the great rear of the North with the battlefield of the South. In the rain of bombs and bullets, the militia and engineering forces, especially the Youth Volunteer units, steadfastly held on to every inch of land, bravely fought back enemy aircraft, cleared bombs and mines, and ensured smooth traffic with the spirit of "Living on the bridge, on the road - Dying steadfastly and bravely". The most tragic was the heroic sacrifice of 16 officers and soldiers of the Youth Volunteer Company C130 (from Thai Binh, now Hung Yen province) in September 1972.

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 to support the battlefield. That sacrifice has become an immortal symbol of the spirit of "Determination to die for the Fatherland, determination to live", 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.

Faced with such great sacrifices, the Party Committee, government and people of Quang Tri province, especially the youth of the whole province, have always been concerned and wished to have a worthy project to commemorate and pay tribute to the heroic martyrs and educate the traditions for future generations. In 2012, the Memorial House to commemorate the sacrifice of 16 Youth Volunteers at Long Dai Ferry was built from socialized funding. By October 2016, the relic was recognized as a provincial historical relic. However, over a long period of time, some items have deteriorated, the scale of the project is not commensurate with the stature and historical significance of this place.

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.

Up to now, the project has been implemented with a total investment of nearly 20 billion VND, including many important items such as the memorial, memorial stele, celebration house, two waiting rooms, boat dock, main gate, side gate, fence... Along with that are infrastructure items such as ceremony yard, walking path, parking lot, green tree system, lighting, garden landscape. Auxiliary items such as fire prevention and fighting system, lightning protection, water supply and drainage, lighting, sound, surveillance cameras... are also fully invested, meeting the requirements of long-term management, operation and conservation.

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.

Delegates cut the ribbon to inaugurate the Memorial Site where 16 Youth Volunteers died at Long Dai Ferry (Photo: baoquangtri.vn).

The inauguration ceremony of the project to renovate the Memorial Site of the 16 Youth Volunteers' Sacrifice at Long Dai Ferry is a sacred tribute to the heroes who fell at the "fire coordinates" of the past. At the same time, the event also opens up an opportunity for Quang Tri to promote the value of the "red address", connecting the heroic past with the innovative present, making the relic a sacred destination in the journey back to the source, contributing to the development of cultural and historical tourism of the homeland.

At the ceremony, Mr. Tran Phong, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Tri province, presented certificates of merit to groups and individuals who have made many positive contributions to the implementation of the project to renovate the memorial site. On this occasion, the Central leaders, leaders of Quang Tri province, and the Vietnam Association of Former Youth Volunteers also presented gifts to former Youth Volunteers in Quang Tri province and relatives of 16 Youth Volunteers who died at Long Dai Ferry Terminal II.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/khanh-thanh-khu-tuong-niem-noi-hy-sinh-cua-16-tnxp-tai-ben-pha-long-dai-20250919130633883.htm