The quiet life of a cemetery caretaker

Cemetery caretaker Le Tho Hung tends to the graves of fallen soldiers at Trieu Son Martyrs' Cemetery.

30 years of caring for the graves of fallen soldiers.

Rain or shine, whenever we visit the Dong Tam International Martyrs' Cemetery (Thiet Ong commune), we always see cemetery caretaker Pham Van Nguyen diligently sweeping and tending to each martyr's grave. Having dedicated 30 years to this quiet work, Mr. Nguyen remembers the names, hometowns, and even the location and number of each grave.

Leading us along a clean, paved road to visit the martyrs' graves, Mr. Nguyen said that the cemetery currently houses the remains of over 2,000 martyrs from 32 provinces and cities nationwide, including 16 martyrs from Laos. His daily work involves caring for and protecting each martyr's grave and welcoming delegations and family members of the martyrs who come to visit the cemetery.

Mr. Nguyen shared: “In 1995, I decided to take on this job not only to make a living but also to express my gratitude to those who sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland. Every day, personally cleaning and weeding the graves, sweeping leaves, trimming trees... it is a source of immense pride for me to be chosen as a cemetery caretaker.”

Throughout his 30 years of caring for the resting place of fallen heroes, Mr. Nguyen has witnessed many touching encounters between the families of fallen soldiers and the soldiers themselves. The 2022 meeting is one of the memories he will never forget. That day, at noon, upon hearing the sound of a car entering the cemetery, he guessed it was relatives coming to find the grave of a fallen soldier, so he invited them into the guest house for a drink. After introductions, he learned that the group was from Thai Binh province . When the family inquired about the information and hometown of the fallen soldier, Mr. Nguyen immediately replied that there was a grave and pointed out its location.

In a moment of overwhelming joy after years of searching, the relatives of the fallen soldiers embraced him, expressing their gratitude upon learning that Mr. Nguyen, along with Ms. Ha Thi Thuy and Mr. Le Van Xe, had diligently and thoughtfully cared for their loved ones' graves. Each time he witnesses such a reunion, Mr. Nguyen is filled with emotion and considers it the greatest joy his job as a cemetery caretaker has brought him.

Following in his father's footsteps as a cemetery caretaker.

In July, visiting the Trieu Son Martyrs' Cemetery, amidst the lingering scent of incense, and seeing the neatly cleaned graves and trimmed trees, everyone feels the dedication and devotion of cemetery caretaker Le Tho Hung. Speaking about how he came to this job, Hung said he followed in the footsteps of his father, veteran Le Tho Thuan, who had been a cemetery caretaker for 35 years. Because their house was near the cemetery, from a young age Hung often accompanied his father there to sweep, clean, and offer incense at the martyrs' graves.

“In 2005, when my father passed away, the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Trieu Son district (formerly) invited me to continue the work of cemetery caretaker. At that time, I was 30 years old and the main breadwinner for my family, but as if understanding my feelings, my wife always supported and encouraged me to take over the work my father had dedicated so many years to. And that was also my wish,” Hung shared.

Mr. Hung also added that Trieu Son Martyrs' Cemetery is the resting place of 484 martyrs, including 93 whose names are yet to be identified. The job of cemetery caretaker is not physically demanding, but it requires dedication, diligence, and perseverance. Whether under the scorching sun or on cold, rainy days, one must never forget their duties, silently continuing their work. Mr. Hung's dedication and responsibility in maintaining the cemetery grounds and martyrs' graves clean and beautiful has been recognized and highly appreciated by delegations and the martyrs' relatives.

Speaking about her husband's work, Ms. Le Thi Lien said that she and her children are always proud of her husband's job as a cemetery caretaker. Whenever she has time, she often comes here to help Mr. Hung take care of the martyrs' graves and trim the trees in the cemetery grounds to keep them neat and clean. "From my father-in-law's generation to my husband's, as cemetery caretaker, I've seen our family always healthy, happy, and our children doing well in school and having stable jobs. Perhaps the martyrs have blessed my family with the life we have today because of my dedication," Ms. Lien said.

Not only do they take care of the graves of fallen soldiers, but for the relatives of fallen soldiers who come from far away, out of sincere gratitude, Mr. Hung's family also invites them to stay and eat at their home and assists the families with the necessary procedures.

Meeting and talking with the cemetery caretakers at the martyrs' cemeteries, we gained a deeper understanding of the silent contributions of these sincere and humble individuals. The stories of Mr. Pham Van Nguyen, Mr. Le Tho Hung, and many other cemetery caretakers in the province show how they have overcome personal difficulties to maintain their enthusiasm and responsibility for their profession over the years. For them, showing gratitude is not just a tradition during July each year; every day, every action they take reflects their profound appreciation for the heroic martyrs. They consider caring for and protecting the martyrs' graves not only a responsibility but also a source of honor and pride, contributing to the preservation of the nation's sacred values.

Text and photos: Trung Hieu

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/lang-tham-nghe-quan-trang-256165.htm