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Grateful
Towards the 78th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27, 1947 - July 27, 2025), Hai Phong youth have simultaneously carried out many activities to "repay gratitude". These specific and practical actions not only demonstrate the morality of "When drinking water, remember its source" but also contribute to fostering ideals of life and educating the tradition of patriotism for the younger generation.
In the last days of July, the house of Vietnamese Heroic Mother Vu Thi Com in Ngoc Lap village, Hai Hung commune is bustling again. As usual, nearing the War Invalids and Martyrs Day on July 27, the younger generation gathers at Mother Com's house to visit her health, burn incense in gratitude at the martyrs' altar, help her clean the house and cook a family reunion meal with her.
At her old age, no longer clear-headed, but when she saw the cadres and members coming to visit, my mother was extremely excited, shaking hands and chatting with each person. Inquiring about my mother's health, Mr. Nguyen Tien Manh, Deputy Head of the Youth Union and Children's Affairs Department, City Fatherland Front Committee, encouraged my mother to eat and rest so that the younger generation can continue to come here to repay her kindness many years later.
"Our young generation is fortunate to be born and raised in peacetime, so we always respect and are grateful to the generation of our ancestors who sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the nation. Caring for Vietnamese Heroic Mothers through simple, rustic actions such as cooking rice and helping mothers clean the house is also a way to show gratitude to the heroic martyrs, Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, and families with contributions to the revolution," said Mr. Manh.
The highlight of this year's July gratitude month is the program of presenting restored martyrs' portraits to relatives in some communes such as An Thanh, Tue Tinh, Hai Hung... Along with that, many gratitude gifts were mobilized from socialized sources, contributing to spreading profound human values, arousing community responsibility.
More than a gift, each reconstructed photo is an awakened memory, a living embodiment of those who sacrificed their youth for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland. Clear color images replace old black and white photos as a way for today's generation to look back at history with all respect.
Holding the portrait of their loved one in their hands, stroking every line on the face and then quietly holding it to their chest, many relatives of martyrs choked with emotion.
Continuing the tradition
In An Duong Ward (Hai Phong City), the incense offering ceremony to commemorate 36 youth volunteers took place in a solemn and emotional atmosphere. This was an activity organized by the Hai Phong City Youth Union in coordination with the City's Association of Former Youth Volunteers to commemorate the outstanding sons of the homeland who heroically sacrificed their lives in the resistance war against America.
The memorial site marks the sacrifice of 36 youth volunteers from units of the Ministry of Transport, from Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Phu Tho, and Ninh Binh (old). They were killed in a fierce bombing in 1967 while on duty at Vat Cach Port.
Immediately after the ceremony, many members joined in taking care of and decorating the memorial area. Gentle hands wiped each row of tombstones and placed fresh flowers as a quiet way to show gratitude to the previous generations.
On this occasion, the Youth Union branches also organized many gratitude activities such as cleaning, renovating and embellishing cemeteries and martyrs' graves, organizing family meals, providing free medical examinations and medicine, and giving gifts to policy beneficiaries and former youth volunteers. The activities received positive responses from local people.
Being examined and given medicine by young doctors, veteran Pham Quoc Su in Lac Phuong commune shared: "I was very touched when the children cared for me, examined me carefully, and asked me questions like relatives. This is a great encouragement for people with merit like us."
On the evening of July 25 and 26, at all martyr cemeteries and memorials in Hai Phong city, a candle lighting ceremony was held to honor heroic martyrs with the gesture of " Each candle lit - Ten thousand hearts of gratitude". organized by the Youth Union at all levels. Thousands of members and young people were present early, lit candles, offered incense and observed a moment of silence before the souls of the martyrs.
In the flickering candlelight, each young face bowed solemnly, hands carefully holding candles and flowers, creating a quiet, respectful, and emotional space. Each candle lit was a tribute to the past, a promise to the future.
Not only in July, the activities of "repaying gratitude" have been, are and will continue to be maintained regularly by Hai Phong youth throughout the year. This includes the implementation of digitizing information on martyr cemeteries and local historical documents to apply technology to traditional education.
LINH LINHSource: https://baohaiphongplus.vn/ngon-lua-tri-an-trong-trai-tim-tuoi-tre-hai-phong-417355.html
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