Memories of the trip to Truong Sa

Reporter Ly Vinh

During their 1,275-nautical-mile journey, the delegation from Tuyen Quang province and members of Task Force No. 6 visited 13 islands: Song Tu Tay, Da Nam, Son Ca, Da Thi, Sinh Ton, Len Dao, Da Dong (A), Da Tay (A), Da Tay (C), Truong Sa Lon, Da Lat, and the DK1/14 and DK1/11 platforms. Of the 13 islands visited, Truong Sa Lon, the "capital" of Truong Sa island district, left the strongest impression on the delegation.

This is a floating island with a pier for large ships to dock; it also has an airport with a long runway. Truong Sa Lon (Big Truong Sa) has always been a fortress, but it is always covered in lush greenery by Barringtonia and Terminalia trees. After participating in activities such as the flag-raising ceremony and the naval troop review on the island, the Tuyen Quang provincial delegation offered incense at the Ho Chi Minh Memorial House; laid wreaths and paid respects to the martyrs at the Martyrs' Monument on the island.

During the trip, the delegation brought five banyan saplings of the original Tan Trao variety to plant at four island locations: Song Tu Tay, Son Ca, Sinh Ton, and Truong Sa Lon. Bringing the Tan Trao banyan trees from Tuyen Quang province to Truong Sa Lon demonstrates that the revolutionary homeland, the "Capital of the Liberation Zone," the "Capital of the Resistance," always stands shoulder to shoulder with the military and people of Truong Sa district, day and night, to safeguard the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland's sea and islands.

One of the most moving moments was the memorial ceremony for the officers and soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the sovereignty of the sea and islands. In the clear sky and calm sea, Comrade Nguyen Sang Vang delivered a speech commemorating the martyrs who died on the southern continental shelf of the Fatherland when dark clouds rolled in, obscuring the view of the ceremony. The ship HQ-571 swayed and tilted. With heartfelt gratitude to the heroes who fell for the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland's sea and islands, immediately after the incense was lit and the wreaths were released into the sea, the atmosphere of the ceremony returned to "calm skies and calm seas."

The "Truong Sa Soldier" badge, which I was honored to receive after my trip, is always a motivation for me to strive even harder to do a better job of promoting patriotism and love for the sea and islands of our homeland to my friends and viewers on TTV, and to continue contributing my efforts to the cause of protecting the sacred sovereignty of our country's sea and islands.