The day Uncle Ho's statue returned to the Central Highlands people

Referring to the monument “Uncle Ho with the ethnic groups of the Central Highlands” located in Pleiku City ( Gia Lai Province), the people here cannot help but recall the first days of building that sacred symbol. In the heart of the vast Central Highlands, the majestic and warm image of Uncle Ho is a source of inspiration, pride and spiritual support for many generations.

Unforgettable days

The statue of Uncle Ho with the ethnic groups of the Central Highlands is located at Dai Doan Ket Square (Pleiku City). This is considered the heart of the mountain town, in the center of the city, where people still come to visit, offer flowers, and organize major events of the province every day. This is not only an architectural work but also a place to preserve memories andeducate the younger generation about the difficult years and the close relationship between Uncle Ho and the people of the Central Highlands.

The statue of Uncle Ho with the ethnic groups of the Central Highlands is located at Dai Doan Ket Square (Pleiku City).

On the occasion of the 135th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday, talking to us, former Secretary of Gia Lai Provincial Party Committee Ha Son Nhin could not help but be moved when recalling the journey of building and welcoming the statue of Uncle Ho to Gia Lai. For him, it was an unforgettable mark in his working process.

Former Gia Lai Provincial Party Secretary Ha Son Nhin shared: During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh never visited the Central Highlands, but in his mind and feelings, the South in general and the Central Highlands in particular were always in his heart. He once sent a letter to the first Southern Ethnic Minority Congress held in Pleiku City on April 19, 1946. In the letter, he encouraged and reminded about the spirit of solidarity and equality among ethnic groups.

For that reason, the ethnic groups in the Central Highlands all wish to have a statue of Uncle Ho in the province so that they can always feel like he is by their side.

Representatives of Gia Lai province and the project construction company took a souvenir photo next to the statue of Uncle Ho at the time the project began. Photo: Tien Dung

In response to the wishes of the people in the province to have a statue of Uncle Ho placed in Pleiku City, on June 30, 2008, the Provincial Party Standing Committee sent Document No. 23-TTr/TU to the Politburo and the Central Party Secretariat asking for approval to build a statue of Uncle Ho with the ethnic groups in the Central Highlands.

The aspirations of the people of all ethnic groups in the province were approved by the Politburo and the Central Party Secretariat in Notice No. 171-TB/TW dated August 2, 2008. Implementing the conclusions of the Politburo and the Central Party Secretariat, Gia Lai province deployed construction activities.

“The decision to place a statue of Uncle Ho in Gia Lai is not only a big event but also an important historical milestone, demonstrating the infinite love of the people of the Central Highlands for the great leader. In the minds of the people here, Uncle Ho is not only the person who led the Vietnamese revolution to victory, but also a symbol of solidarity, love and firm belief in the future,” Mr. Ha Son Nhin emphasized.

At that time, former Gia Lai Provincial Party Secretary Ha Son Nhin was the Head of the Steering Committee for the construction of the Uncle Ho statue. The province also established the Provincial Arts Council, the Construction Management Board and organized scientific seminars to widely collect opinions on the location of the statue, the scale of the statue, materials, etc.

On October 3, 2010, the construction of the monument “Uncle Ho with the ethnic groups of the Central Highlands” began. It is known that this is the first monument to be constructed using copper plate pressing technology (similar to the technology of the Statue of Liberty in the United States), different from the traditional manual bronze casting of Vietnam.

In addition to the statue of Uncle Ho, the project also built three steps in the middle of Le Loi Street to the square area, a stone book, a great unity stone pillar, two sets of gongs, an octagonal house, a place to worship Uncle Ho... creating a complete architectural complex as it is today.

The flame illuminates and guides generations

The memories of the days when Uncle Ho’s statue came to the Central Highlands are still vivid in the minds of many people in Pleiku City. Long lines of trucks carrying materials, the sound of machinery bustling throughout the area. People from all over the villages came, not only to witness but also to contribute to this meaningful project. The atmosphere of those days is unforgettable.

For the people of Gia Lai, Uncle Ho's statue is not only an architectural work but also a torch that illuminates and guides many generations.

Then when the Uncle Ho statue was completed, the inauguration day was an even more special day. On December 9, 2012, the inauguration ceremony of the Uncle Ho statue with the ethnic groups of the Central Highlands was solemnly held by the province in the joy of the whole Party and the whole people. Thousands of people from villages across the Central Highlands flocked to Pleiku to witness the historic moment. The sound of gongs resounded, the bustling xoang dance mingled with the bright smiles of the people.

Ms. H'Nhung (Op village, Hoa Lu ward, Pleiku city) recalled: "It was the first time I saw so many people, everyone was happy and proud. Standing in front of Uncle Ho's statue, I cried with emotion. Not only me but everyone else, tears mixed with thousands of hearts turned to Uncle Ho with all their deep gratitude."

The performance "Echo of the Great Forest" on the opening night of Gia Lai Culture - Tourism Week and the Central Highlands Gong Performance Festival in Gia Lai in 2023, was recognized as a Vietnamese record by the Vietnam Record Organization (Vietkings).

Nowadays, the statue of Uncle Ho is not only a historical symbol but also a place to organize meaningful cultural and educational activities. Every year, on major holidays, people gather here to offer flowers and commemorate him. The young generation also comes here to learn about history, patriotism and gratitude towards beloved Uncle Ho.

For the people of Gia Lai, Uncle Ho’s statue is not only an architectural work but also a torch that illuminates and guides many generations. Memories of the days when Uncle Ho’s statue returned to the Central Highlands are forever kept in our hearts, a source of pride and a reminder to everyone of their responsibility to preserve and promote the values ​​that Uncle Ho has worked so hard to cultivate.

The Uncle Ho Monument with the ethnic groups of the Central Highlands is located in a complex of architectures with an area of ​​12.5 hectares. The statue is made of 5mm thick copper plate, using the technology of pressing, shaping and welding, a new technology implemented for the first time in Vietnam; the statue is 10.8m high, weighs 16 tons; the pedestal is 4.5m high, reinforced concrete foundation structure with bored piles, natural stone cladding.

Article and photos: Hien Mai

Source: https://congthuong.vn/ngay-tuong-dai-bac-ho-ve-voi-dan-toc-tay-nguyen-388177.html