Volunteer when young, exemplary when old

A time of fire and flowers

In mid-April, we had the opportunity to visit former Youth Volunteer Vo Thi Anh. Talking about her time participating in the Youth Volunteers, Ms. Anh, now nearly 80 years old, still could not hide her pride. At the age of 20, the young girl from Thuan My commune, Chau Thanh district, Long An province volunteered to join the Youth Volunteers team in her commune to serve the revolution.

From October 1967 to 1969, Thuan My commune became the Base of the Sub-Zone Party Committee and the Command of Sub-Zone 3, with comrade Nguyen Van Chinh as Secretary of the Sub-Zone Party Committee and comrade Huynh Cong Than as Commander of the Sub-Zone.

Ms. Vo Thi Anh (Thuan My commune, Chau Thanh district) talks about the heroic years participating in the youth volunteer force.

After Tet Mau Than in 1968, the US - puppet army concentrated its forces to implement the "Rapid Pacification" program, sweeping and fiercely attacking the outskirts, including the area of Division 3. In the midst of the war, the female Youth Volunteers not only took on the task of liaison, transporting the wounded, and transporting ammunition, but also participated in feeding the troops and providing logistics, making a silent but great contribution to the resistance war.

Ms. Anh said: “Once, while I was on duty, the enemy suddenly attacked and bombarded me fiercely. My child was only a few months old at that time. I was so frightened that I hugged him tightly and ran while looking for a place to hide. At that time, I thought that I would rather die than protect my child at all costs. Continuing on duty, I protected my child and served the revolution at the same time.”

Remembering a time of youth living for noble ideals, the Youth Volunteers of that time always considered it an honor and pride. And then in peacetime, the fire of wartime volunteering still burned brightly, becoming the motivation for them to continue to strive to rise up in life, contributing their efforts and strength with the forces to make the glorious history of their homeland and country.

Recalling the arduous years of resistance, Ms. Anh recalled: “When our troops fought, the Youth Volunteers participated in support. If anyone was injured, they had to be immediately evacuated and taken for timely treatment. When comrades died, we took care of their burial. There were comrades who were sitting and chatting and laughing yesterday, but the next day we had to send them to their final resting place. War was cruel and painful! Loss was inevitable. At that time, to me, everyone was a hero.”

Receiving support to build a charity house, Ms. Vo Thi Anh (Thuan My commune, Chau Thanh district) felt warmed by the solidarity of her comrades.

After the war, Ms. Anh returned to normal life, carrying the spirit of the former Youth Volunteer Soldier to continue contributing to her homeland. With her prestige and exemplary spirit, she mobilized people to join hands to build rural roads with a budget of about 45 million VND and contribute labor days; mobilized people to install solar lights with a budget of about 20 million VND, contributing to lighting up the countryside. In addition, she often helps people in difficult circumstances, spreading the spirit of "mutual love and support" in the community.

In recognition of Ms. Anh's contributions, in 2013, the Provincial People's Committee supported her to build a house of gratitude with a budget of about 40 million VND. Ms. Anh shared: "The war ended, living in peace is lucky, and the government also cared for me, gave me gifts, supported me to build a house,... I was very happy and felt warm inside!"

Promoting good traditions

In 2024, the province will have 45 grassroots organizations recognized as Youth Volunteers with 4,160 members. Patriotic emulation movements continue to be promoted through many meaningful Association activities such as the movement of students studying and following Uncle Ho's teachings; building a model of an airy summer; the movement of the whole people uniting to build a cultural life in residential areas;...

Chairman of the Provincial Association of Former Youth Volunteers - Le Ba Phuoc informed: “In recent years, the Provincial Association of Former Youth Volunteers at all levels has mobilized members, organizations and individuals to join hands to take care of members in difficult circumstances. In 2024, the Association mobilized support to build and repair 17 houses for members in difficult circumstances with a total cost of 937 million VND.

In addition, the Association mobilized to donate 5 savings books with the amount of 25 million VND to former Youth Volunteers in difficulty. In addition, the Provincial Association of Former Youth Volunteers also established a Comradeship Fund of more than 1 billion VND to help members in difficult times, build economic development models, and strengthen solidarity and "mutual love" within the Association.

In Tan Hung district, taking care of the material and spiritual life of members of the Association of Former Youth Volunteers, especially poor members and those in truly difficult circumstances, is one of the key activities of the Association in the 2020-2025 term.

Since the beginning of the term, the Tan Hung District Veterans Association has mobilized benefactors inside and outside the district to repair 2 charity houses and build 4 new houses of Comradeship with a budget of more than 450 million VND.

Tan Hung District Veterans Association cares for and looks after its members

Every year, on holidays and Tet, in addition to the gifts allocated by the Provincial Association, the Standing Committee of the District Association mobilizes benefactors to visit and give gifts to the families of former Youth Volunteers in difficult circumstances with a total cost of more than 584 million VND. The Association also coordinates with the District Red Cross and Long An Radio and Television Station (now Long An Newspaper and Radio and Television Station) to implement the Overcoming Danger program, helping 3 students with serious illnesses overcome difficulties.

Chairman of the Association of Former Youth Volunteers of Tan Hung District - Nguyen Thanh Hung said: The Association also built a model of Raising Pigs for the sake of comradeship, mobilizing cadres and students to contribute to the Revolving Capital Contribution Fund, which raised 169 million VND to help poor students borrow to develop production. Thereby, many students promoted the qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers, rose up to overcome difficulties, and developed the economy in accordance with their family's conditions.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Be (Lang Sen hamlet, Vinh Dai commune, Tan Hung district) joined the Youth Volunteer Force from 1965 until the liberation day. During the 10 years she devoted her entire youth to the revolution, from carrying ammunition, carrying the wounded, transporting food, weapons,... she was always a solid rear, silently contributing to the victories at the front line. After the country was reunified, she returned to normal life and started to develop the family economy.

Due to her difficult life, she was supported by the District Veterans Association with an initial capital of 3 million VND to buy a python to raise in 2016. After a period of good care and learning experience in raising the python, it reproduced steadily, bringing her a stable income. Not only taking care of her family's economy, she also breeds and shares free pythons with students in difficult circumstances so that they can improve their lives.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Be (Lang Sen hamlet, Vinh Dai commune, Tan Hung district) has a stable life thanks to the initial support capital from the Tan Hung District Association of Former Youth Volunteers.

Now, her life is stable and she no longer raises pythons like before, but she still remembers the kind capital that her comrades helped her with years ago. “I am always grateful to the Veterans Association at all levels and benefactors for their support. The capital supported to raise pythons in 2016, although not large, was the motivation for me to start improving my family's economy. Everyone's kindness helped me feel that I was not forgotten, that I was still accompanied and shared. Thanks to that, I have the conditions to support other students who are in more difficult situations than me,” said Ms. Be.

According to Mr. Le Ba Phuoc, with the spirit of "Volunteering when young, being exemplary when old", in the coming time, the Association will continue to promote the emulation movement of Former Youth Volunteers who vow to set a good example following Uncle Ho's teachings, mobilizing members to actively participate in patriotic emulation activities, solidarity, gratitude and support each other to overcome difficulties and escape poverty; continue to resolve the regime and policies for Former Youth Volunteers according to regulations, not letting anyone who is eligible not benefit./.

Khanh Duy - Thu Thao

Source: https://baolongan.vn/luc-tre-xung-phong-ve-gia-guong-mau-a193962.html