Promote the spirit of "old age, strong will"

During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh paid special attention to and always promoted the role of the elderly. In “The Call for Unity of All Elders” (June 1941), he wrote: “Even though the hair is gray, the eyes are dizzy, the hands tremble, the legs are tired; but a word of the elderly has an influence on the prosperity of the country, an action of the elderly has an influence on killing the enemy... To the family, to the Fatherland, the elderly have the responsibility of being the elders. To the village, to the people, the elderly have great trust. The elderly call, the people respond. The elderly do, the people follow”.

Responding to Uncle Ho's call, generations of elderly people across the country enthusiastically participated in seizing power, fighting resistance, and building the nation, worthy of Uncle Ho's recognition:

"Old age but not old spirit,

Contribute to building a prosperous country".

During the two long wars of resistance for independence, freedom and national reunification, generations of Vietnamese elderly people did not mind the hardships and sacrifices for national independence and the eternal existence of the Fatherland. During the years 1941 - 1945, many elderly people participated in the organization of the Association of Elderly People for National Salvation, together with their children and grandchildren, sheltered cadres, worked as liaison officers and actively participated in military operations, and actively worked with cadres to build forces to prepare for the general uprising to seize power for the people.

During the resistance war against the French colonialists, the elderly set an example and encouraged their children and grandchildren to participate in the fight against hunger, illiteracy, and foreign invaders. In the liberated areas, the elderly, together with their families and localities, competed in labor production, serving the lives and feeding cadres and soldiers, and encouraged their children and young people to join the army and youth volunteers. The Associations of Mothers of Soldiers actively encouraged savings, built “rice jars to feed the army,” and wholeheartedly cared for wounded soldiers.

During the resistance war against the US to save the country (1954 - 1975), the elderly enthusiastically participated in the two strategic missions of the nation. The North built 5-10 ton fields to defeat the US, with the spirit of "Not a pound of rice is missing, not a soldier is missing", "All for the South", "All to defeat the American invaders". On the southern battlefield, many elderly people day and night dug tunnels to hide cadres, helped the liberation army, participated in armed struggle, and political struggle.

In the process of innovation, construction and development of the country, the elderly in our country have actively contributed in many fields such as economy , culture, society, science - technology, production and business. Our country currently has millions of elderly people with university and college degrees, many professors, doctors, scientists, key officials of the Party, State, sectors and levels, despite their advanced age, still work tirelessly and enthusiastically. scientific research, labor, creativity ; many elderly people at the age of 70, 80 are still business owners, farm owners..., not only creating jobs and income for their children and grandchildren in their family and clan but also creating jobs for many workers.

Elderly people in Bac Kan actively participate in cultural and artistic movements.
( Photo: Performance at the 2023 Provincial Elderly Singing Festival)

In recent years, the Association of the Elderly nationwide has organized well environmental protection activities, participated in building new rural areas, civilized urban areas, the movement to encourage learning and talent, the whole people united to build cultural life in residential areas, and helped the elderly in difficult circumstances... During the Covid-19 pandemic, Associations at all levels and the elderly nationwide have organized many meaningful activities such as supporting funds and necessities, many elderly people are still enthusiastically participating in the fight against the epidemic...

Continuing that noble tradition, over the years, all levels of the Elderly Association of Bac Kan province have always demonstrated their role, responsibility, and exemplary role in many fields, contributing to building cultural life in residential areas, becoming a shining example for the next generation to learn and follow.

As a senior citizen, from 1998 to present, Mr. Pham Van Khac has been trusted to hold the role of Head of the Front Work Committee of Thai Binh village, Quan Ha commune, Bach Thong district. Through many years of work, he has affirmed his sense of responsibility and prestige towards the locality, always being exemplary, and being trusted by the people. In recent years, Mr. Khac and the village leaders have always actively promoted people to build new rural areas. Thanks to that, up to now, the village has built an electricity system to light up the country roads. Not only that, in 2023, he mobilized people to contribute 118 million VND and 400 working days to support site clearance, and mobilized 2 households to donate 450 ^m2 of land to build a village cultural house. In 2023, Thai Binh village met the standards of a new rural village, and the village has also achieved the title of Cultural Residential Area for 15 consecutive years.

In charge of cultural and artistic activities of the Elderly Association of Duc Xuan Ward, Bac Kan City, Ms. Ha Thi Nghin has actively taught the Then melodies of the Tay ethnic group to the younger generation, especially children. In the first days of class, the children were still confused because they did not know how to listen and speak the Tay language, but Ms. Nghin patiently guided each word and note, so after a period of study, many children were able to sing and perform. Ms. Nghin hopes that in the future, schools will include Then melodies and Tinh lutes of the Tay ethnic group in extracurricular activities to further cultivate in children a love and appreciation for the cultural values ​​of the nation.

Promoting the tradition of the elderly, generations of Vietnamese elderly people are continuing to carry out patriotic emulation movements well. The older they are, the stronger their will is. They live happily, healthily, and usefully, contributing their enthusiasm, intelligence, and experience to the construction of an increasingly developed country./.

Source: https://backan.gov.vn/Pages/neu-cao-tinh-than-tuoi-cao-y-chi-cang-cao-d628.aspx