Memorial service and burial of martyrs of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts

On the morning of May 16th, at the Dong Tam International Martyrs' Cemetery (Ba Thuoc district), the Party Committee, government, armed forces, and people of Thanh Hoa province solemnly held a memorial service and burial ceremony for the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who sacrificed their lives in the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and whose remains have recently been brought back to their sacred homeland.

Comrade Lai The Nguyen, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation and delegates attended the memorial service and burial of martyrs' remains.

Attending the ceremony were: Comrade Lai The Nguyen, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation; Major General Nguyen Ngoc Ha, Deputy Commander of Military Region 4; Nguyen Quang Hai, Provincial Party Committee member and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; representatives from the Government's Special Task Force, the Special Task Force of Hua Phan Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic; representatives from the leadership of Ba Thuoc, Quan Son, Quan Hoa, Lang Chanh, and Cam Thuy districts; and a large number of people.

In recent years, with the attention and leadership of the Special Working Committee of the two Governments of Vietnam - Laos, Steering Committee 515 of Military Region 4 and the Special Working Committee of the two provinces of Thanh Hoa and Hua Phan, the work of searching for and collecting the remains of martyrs who died in Laos has been effectively carried out.

Representatives from the Provincial Military Command reported on the repatriation efforts during the 2023-2024 dry season.

During the 2023-2024 dry season, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Remains Recovery Team proactively overcame all difficulties and closely coordinated with all levels, sectors, and localities in Hua Phan Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic, to search for and recover 15 remains of Vietnamese martyrs, volunteer soldiers, and experts who sacrificed their lives in Laos, bringing them back to their homeland.

Comrade Lai The Nguyen, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, delivered a speech at the ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Lai The Nguyen emphasized: During the resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism, upholding the tradition of solidarity and friendship, the people of Vietnam and Laos always empathized with each other and closely linked in the mission of fighting against the common enemy to win independence and freedom for their homelands. Tens of thousands of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts set aside their families, relatives, and hometowns, carrying guns and backpacks, marching across the Truong Son mountain range to Laos to fulfill their international duty, fighting alongside the Lao army and people against the invading enemy, contributing to the glorious victory of the resistance wars of both countries.

The delegation from the 4th Military Region Command offered incense and flowers.

Among them, many sons and daughters of the Vietnamese nation and Thanh Hoa province bravely sacrificed their lives in Laos. The immense dedication and sacrifice of these heroes and heroines are shining symbols of revolutionary heroism, reflecting the burning desire to win independence, freedom, and happiness for both the Vietnamese and Lao peoples, and further strengthening the special solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Laos.

The delegation from the Special Task Force of Hua Phan province offered incense and flowers.

Since peace was restored, Vietnam and Laos have identified the search, collection, excavation, and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts as one of their important tasks, reflecting the tradition and moral principle of "remembering the source when drinking water" and "repaying gratitude" of the two nations. At the same time, it is also a responsibility and a profound sentiment of today's generation towards the outstanding sons and daughters of the Vietnamese nation who dedicated their most beautiful years to the independence and freedom of both Vietnam and Laos.

Comrade Lai The Nguyen, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, along with other delegates, offered incense and flowers to the heroic martyrs.

According to Comrade Lai The Nguyen, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, over the past 26 years, from 1998 to the present, following the directives of the Government's Special Task Force, the National Steering Committee 515, and the Party Committee of the 4th Military Region Command; and especially with the support and assistance of the Party Committee, government, armed forces, and people of Hua Phan province, Thanh Hoa province has carried out the search, collection, excavation, and repatriation of thousands of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts back to their homeland. During the 2023-2024 dry season in Laos, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Martyrs' Grave Collection Team overcame countless difficulties and hardships, traversing forests and wading through streams to reach various locations in Laos. Before the spirits of the heroic martyrs, we pledge to uphold the revolutionary tradition, unite, and continue to successfully implement the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country. Building and protecting the Vietnamese Fatherland, with the goal of "A prosperous people, a strong nation, democracy, fairness, and civilization".

The delegation from Thanh Hoa province offered incense to the heroic martyrs.

Before the spirits of the heroic martyrs, at this solemn ceremony, on behalf of the Thanh Hoa Provincial leadership, the Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Lai The Nguyen, sincerely thanked the Party Committee, government, and people of Hua Phan Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic, for their dedicated assistance and for creating favorable conditions for Thanh Hoa Province to fulfill this noble task. He praised and highly appreciated the province's team responsible for collecting the remains of martyrs, who tirelessly searched for their beloved comrades, excavating and bringing the remains of martyrs back to the homeland over long distances.

Comrade Lai The Nguyen, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, along with other delegates, moved the remains of the martyrs to their burial place.

The Party Committee, government, and people of Thanh Hoa province pledge to unite wholeheartedly, determined to overcome all difficulties and challenges, to build Thanh Hoa into a prosperous, beautiful, civilized, and modern province, to promote the spirit of international solidarity, and to continuously strengthen and cultivate the special friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Laos, and between Thanh Hoa and Hua Phan, ensuring it remains ever-lasting and enduring, contributing to the protection of peace, friendship, and cooperation in the region and the world.

Representatives of the Special Task Force of Hua Phan province move the remains of fallen soldiers to their burial site.

Young people, along with other forces, participated in the burial of the fallen soldiers.

The forces performed the burial ceremony for the remains of the fallen soldiers.

The Thanh Hoa Provincial Remains Collection Team performs the burial ceremony for the remains of fallen soldiers.

Comrade Lai The Nguyen, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, along with other delegates, offered incense at the graves of the martyrs.

After the memorial service, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Lai The Nguyen and delegates moved the remains and performed the burial ceremony of 15 martyrs at the graves of Dong Tam International Martyrs Cemetery.

Le Hoi

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/le-truy-dieu-va-an-tang-cac-liet-si-quan-tinh-nguyen-va-chuyen-gia-viet-nam-214273.htm