'Forever 20': Looking back at the journey connecting history with the present

On August 16, the 20th anniversary of the Forever 20 Fund took place in Hanoi . Many new books on the topic of revolutionary war were also introduced on this occasion.

Exactly 20 years ago, after the two diaries “Forever 20” by martyr Nguyen Van Thac and “Dang Thuy Tram’s Diary” by Hero of the People’s Armed Forces, martyr Dang Thuy Tram were published, causing a great stir in public opinion nationwide, the Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee decided to establish the Forever 20 Fund on August 16, 2005.

According to Lieutenant General Doan Sinh Huong, Hero of the People's Armed Forces, Chairman of the "Forever 20" Club, from 2022, to suit the actual operating conditions, the "Forever 20" Fund will change its name to "Forever 20" Club. Although the name has changed, the purpose remains the same as in the beginning: Gratitude - Honor - Charity - Inspiration.

Launching ceremony of Forever 20 Fund at Temple of Literature, August 16, 2005.

Over the past 20 years, the Forever 20 Club has organized hundreds of trips to remote areas: Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Quang Ngai, Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Giang , Son La, Dien Bien, Quang Ninh, Cao Bang... to give gifts to border posts, build border protection posts, build houses of gratitude, bridges for people, support families of martyrs, Vietnamese heroic mothers, and disadvantaged children. Thousands of sets of clothes, books, and necessities have reached people in the highlands.

In particular, the organization of collecting, compiling, publishing and introducing hundreds of works of the “Forever 20 Years Old Bookcase”, included in the book series “Letters from the Vietnam War” and “Vietnam War Diary.” Along with the memoirs and autobiographies in the “Soldier’s Heart” Bookcase of veterans, they have been published and introduced publicly.

The program “Dang Thuy Tram Bookcase” coordinated by the Forever 20 Club has donated dozens of bookcases to schools and cultural houses in many regions across the country, contributing to improving people's knowledge, arousing gratitude and dreams for future generations.

The book series “Vietnam War Diary” consists of 4 volumes, with more than 5,000 printed pages, and is a typical work of the “Forever 20” Bookcase.

With the belief: Not to let the sacrifices of martyrs, wounded soldiers, and veterans become meaningless; not to let the young generation forget the nation's heroic history of fighting against foreign invaders; Forever 20 Club always focuses on connecting with young people and students.

Students went with the Forever 20 Club to cemeteries, heard real stories from living witnesses and veterans - and from there, felt the value of peace and responsibility for the future of the country.

According to Colonel, writer Dang Vuong Hung (founding member, Vice Chairman of the Board of Management and Executive Board of Forever 20 Club), the greatest achievement is not the amount of billions of VND mobilized from socialized sources; nor the hundreds of priceless wartime documentary books with humanistic meanings published; or the works and material gifts given; but rather the spirit of gratitude, honoring patriotism, sense of responsibility and connection between generations, lit from the heart, passed on to the heart.

“From the blood and tears of the past, today we build the future with gratitude and practical work for the next generation. The Forever 20 Club is a symbol of aspiration and dedication; of commitment and of the boundless love for the homeland of the ‘Soldiers’ Hearts’,” said Colonel and writer Dang Vuong Hung./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/mai-mai-tuoi-20-nhin-lai-hanh-trinh-ket-noi-lich-su-voi-hien-tai-post1056139.vnp