The moment a 104-year-old martyr's mother burst into tears upon receiving her son's remains after more than half a century of waiting

On April 3, the local government and family held a ceremony to receive and bury the remains of martyr Nguyen Cong Hoa after nearly 52 years of his death. After a solemn memorial service held at his home, martyr Hoa's remains were buried at the commune's martyr cemetery.

Mr. Lai reunited with his son after more than half a century of waiting. Photo: TH

Martyr Nguyen Cong Hoa was born in 1951 in Van Thuong hamlet, Thanh Van commune, now merged into Dai Dong commune (Thanh Chuong district). In 1969, he enlisted in the army when he was just 18 years old. In June 1973, his family received a death notice, which did not state his burial or death place. At the time of his death, he was a platoon leader of the 968th Division. Over the past half century, his family has visited martyrs' cemeteries in Nghe An and Ha Tinh many times but to no avail.

Hearing the news that her son had been brought home after 52 years apart, early in the morning, Mrs. Pham Thi Lai (104 years old), pushed by her children and grandchildren in a wheelchair, went to the end of the alley to wait. A few years ago, after her 100th birthday, she fell and could no longer walk by herself. At her rare age, she had forgotten many things, but she had never forgotten her son who was lying somewhere on the battlefield. Every time she was asked about martyr Hoa, she told every little story clearly as well as her wish to find her son's grave. When her son's remains returned under the national flag, Mrs. Lai continuously choked up.

"Hoa? Here you are... It's been decades, my child...", Mrs. Lai burst into tears when she saw her child again.

Mr. Lai at his son's altar during the memorial service. Photo: TH

The family said that a few years ago, a volunteer group found a grave named Nguyen Cong Hoa at the Road 9 Martyrs' Cemetery (Quang Tri Province), so they contacted the family. "Although the grave only had the name and unit, no hometown, year of birth or year of death, I had a feeling that my uncle was lying underneath. That's why the family requested a DNA test. After a period of waiting, in February, the results were correct," said Nguyen Cong Quynh, nephew of martyr Hoa, adding that for more than a month, since the test results were available, his grandmother asked every day when they would receive his uncle's remains.