People mourn former President Tran Duc Luong

In Hanoi in the last days of May, the sky seemed to be quiet. The soggy clouds caused heavy rain from the night until the morning of May 24, as if sharing the same sorrow with the throbbing hearts. The passing of former President Tran Duc Luong - a loyal communist party member, a devoted and exemplary leader, an excellent son of the heroic homeland of Quang Ngai, rich in revolutionary traditions, is a great loss to our Party, State and people.

In an atmosphere of silence and infinite emotion, theState Funeral of former President Tran Duc Luong was solemnly held at the National Funeral House, No. 5 Tran Thanh Tong (Hanoi). The Fatherland silently bids farewell to a man who devoted his whole life to the country, a leader who always put the interests of the nation and people above all else.

Mr. Dong Diep, former Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute of Geosciences, emotionally recounted memories of the years working with comrade Tran Duc Luong.

The groups of mourners lined up quietly and orderly outside the funeral home, their eyes looking inward with a sad gaze. The atmosphere here seemed to freeze, choked and sacred. The hearts seemed to beat together, a rhythm of gratitude, a rhythm of remembrance of a virtuous and simple man, close to the people and for the people.

Wreaths bearing the words “Deeply mourning comrade Tran Duc Luong” were respectfully offered by delegations from the Central, local, international friends and compatriots. It was not just a farewell ceremony, it was a farewell from the bottom of the heart, a gratitude from the entire Party, the entire people and the entire army to an outstanding leader of our Party and State; a shining example of dedication and wholehearted service to the Fatherland and the people.

In the middle of the sacred Ba Dinh Square, the national flag hangs quietly in the rain. At the National Funeral House, with the sad background music of “Soul of the Dead”, the soulful melodies seem to touch the deepest part of the soul, making each step inside the Funeral House seem to slow down, seem heavier with grief.

Mr. Ngo Xuan Chien, 85 years old, a severely wounded soldier, living in Hoan Kiem district, was helped by his relatives to the National Funeral Home early in the morning. The rain soaked his shoulders but could not stop the footsteps of an old soldier from the past. Mr. Ngo Xuan Chien confided: “I came to pay my respects to a comrade, a leader whom I deeply respect. People like comrade Tran Duc Luong have shouldered a part of this nation’s history…”. The short sentence was filled with tears like a word of gratitude on behalf of many generations.

Among the people who came to see him off, there were faces with gray hair and sad eyes of those who had once stood side by side with former President Tran Duc Luong, not only in work but also in comradeship and friendship. To them, he was not only a high-ranking leader of the Party and State but also a sincere, exemplary and profound brother and colleague.

Mr. Dong Diep, former Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute of Geosciences, choked up and stood silently for a long time in front of the portrait. “When I heard that Mr. Tran Duc Luong had passed away, I felt indescribably sad. I worked with him for a long time and have many memories of him and his family. He was a kind, simple but profound person, always dedicated to his work and sincere to his comrades and teammates. With Mr. Luong's passing, Quang Ngai lost an excellent son, and the country lost a virtuous leader who always put the interests of the nation above all else.”

Professor Phan Truong Thi, former Vice Principal of the University of General Sciences, expressed her condolences at the passing of comrade Tran Duc Luong.

As for Professor Phan Truong Thi, former Vice President of the University of General Sciences, an erudite scientist, closely associated with important stages of development of Vietnam's higher education, the passing of former President Tran Duc Luong is not only a great loss for the country, but also a sorrow for an entire generation of intellectuals who witnessed and accompanied the transformational stages of the nation.

In a choked emotion, the Professor shared: “Comrade Tran Duc Luong is not only a talented, approachable, and simple leader, but also someone who always pays special attention to intellectuals, to the development of science, education and training, the pillars that build the future of the country. I had the opportunity to listen to his instructions, always thorough, calm but decisive, with strategic significance on the development path of an independent, innovative and integrated Vietnam”.

According to Professor Phan Truong Thi, the contributions of former President Tran Duc Luong are “a valuable political and moral legacy for future generations”. He was a leader who lived and acted for the communist ideal, for the interests of the nation and people, always kept himself pure, close to the people, and loved the people. In his memory, the image of the former President is the embodiment of an exemplary leader, a virtuous and upright person, who lived with all his affection for the people and comrades, always concerned with the fate of the nation and the future of the country.

That farewell, from a scientist to a politician, is a profound intersection between knowledge and responsibility, between morality and history. And today, before the spirit of the former President, Professor Phan Truong Thi and many other intellectuals, scientists, and teachers quietly bowed their heads, as a sincere thank you to the person who devoted his whole life to the prosperity of the country and the maturity of the next generations.

Police forces support and guide people through procedures to visit former President Tran Duc Luong.

Those who were fortunate enough to have worked with former President Tran Duc Luong all appreciated him not only as a leader who always maintained a steadfast stance and innovative thinking, but also as a close friend who always cared about his brothers and colleagues. Many people still remember that, amidst the busy work of a head of state, he still attended friendly meetings with his old classmates and colleagues, with simple but heartwarming greetings.

In him, people feel a crystallization of solid political will, wise intelligence and gentle personality. Those who have worked with him, and met him once, all carry in their memories the image of a leader close to the people, a profound, calm person, who always puts "heart" and "responsibility" first.

Amidst the crowd silently walking in the funeral procession, the sincere condolences of the people and friends were like a farewell from the homeland to the son who devoted his whole life to the Fatherland, like a stick of incense burned in gratitude and mourning.

Not only those present at the funeral home, but also all over the country, through television and newspapers, countless people also silently watched the funeral. Many people cried as if saying goodbye to a family member. Because in their hearts, comrade Tran Duc Luong was not only a head of state but also a close, simple, gentle person, always quietly working for the people, for the country, regardless of fame or profit.

Emotions spread and surged when the music “Soul of the Dead Soldier” played. That music was not just a part of the ceremony, but the voice of a nation bidding farewell to an outstanding son. Some people bowed their heads slightly, others silently wiped away the tears that were running down their cheeks. They came to say thank you, to bow before a great personality, an exemplary leader, devoted to the country and the people...

The passing of comrade Tran Duc Luong is a great loss. But what remains is a shining example of a humble life of tireless dedication. A leadership style that is close, profound, and full of kindness, very simple. A spirit of dedication to a noble ideal. That simple yet noble legacy will remain deeply imprinted in the hearts of Vietnamese people today and tomorrow.

The stream of people continued silently. In the lingering smoke of incense, in the silent space, the farewell words still echoed: “Farewell, comrade Tran Duc Luong – an outstanding son of the nation, a staunch communist soldier, a leader who devoted himself to the country and the people…”.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/doi-song/nguoi-dan-tiec-thuong-nguyen-chu-tich-nuoc-tran-duc-luong-i769359/