Immortal songs…

April is like a promise to return to the Martyrs' Memorial at Cau Nhe. It is there, 55 years ago, that the American imperialists relentlessly dropped bombs and shelled the area in an attempt to cut off the marching routes and supply convoys carrying food and provisions to the Southern battlefield. In the midst of the fighting, 53 officers and soldiers of Battalion 351, Regiment 5, Yen Tu, Hai Phong, perished while marching along Provincial Road 12 (now Khanh Vinh Yen commune, Can Loc district).

The shrine commemorating the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives at Cau Nhe has been restored and renovated.

To commemorate them, in 2005, a memorial monument and shrine bearing the names of the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives at Cau Nhe was built, and the memorial site was classified as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic in 2014.

In 2022, Giang Nam Petroleum Company Limited provided 5.2 billion VND in funding to upgrade the memorial site for the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives at Cau Nhe. This meaningful act fulfills the aspirations of the people of Ha Tinh and Hai Phong, demonstrating the tradition of "drinking water, remembering the source," and paying tribute to the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Ngoc, General Director of Giang Nam Petroleum Company Limited, shared: “This project is a tribute to the soldiers who sacrificed for the Fatherland, and a testament to the strong bond between the Party Committee, government, and businesses of Hai Phong City and Ha Tinh. We hope that with this investment, the Cau Nhe historical site will receive even more attention from younger generations. Through this, we hope to educate them about patriotism and their civic responsibility to the Fatherland.”

During these historic days, many people have come to visit and offer incense to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives at Cau Nhe.

Located approximately 10 km southwest of Cau Nhe Bridge is a shrine dedicated to 23 fallen Youth Volunteers in Phu Loc commune, situated on Con Cong hill (Tra Son village). The shrine was built in 2010 to commemorate the 23 officers and soldiers of the Youth Volunteer Corps, Company 555 - General Youth Volunteer Corps 55-P18, who sacrificed their lives while performing their duty ensuring traffic on November 13, 1972.

Over 50 years have passed, and that tragic and heroic story has become an integral part of the homeland's rivers and mountains, etched in the memories of comrades and loved ones. Today, the pain in people's hearts has eased as they witness the place where their comrades fell being regularly cared for, rebuilt, and upgraded to a more dignified state thanks to the attention and investment of various units, organizations, and individuals. In particular, at the end of 2024, the memorial shrine began its renovation with a budget of 2.8 billion VND, funded through the efforts and support of the Hai Phong City Youth Union. This project has fulfilled the long-awaited aspirations of countless comrades, relatives of the martyrs, and the people living on this land.

The shrine dedicated to the 23 fallen Youth Volunteers in Phu Loc commune remains a popular destination for young people.

Mr. Nguyen Duy Vy, Chairman of the Phu Loc Commune People's Committee, shared: “In the past, the locality has advised the district to invest over 1 billion VND to build a road leading to the shrine area, approximately 330 meters long and 5 meters wide. The project will be started as soon as the renovation and restoration of the shrine is completed. We are also mobilizing people to donate land to expand the area behind the shrine to implement the idea of gathering the graves of fallen Youth Volunteers for burial here. The commune has also established a management board and maintains activities of offering incense and prayers to the martyrs during each holiday and Tet (Lunar New Year). At the same time, we have assigned the local veterans' association and youth union to coordinate with the Youth Volunteers to find the portraits and artifacts of the Youth Volunteers who fell on this land to build a traditional house, contributing to educating patriotism for the younger generation.”

In the spirit of gratitude during these historic April days, the staff and employees of the Ke Go Nature Reserve Management Board are quietly sending their remembrance to the soldiers, officers, and youth volunteers who sacrificed their lives in the Ke Go reservoir area through practical actions.

The memorial to the heroic martyrs at Ke Go Lake was built with a total cost of over 10 billion VND from socialized funding.

Over 50 years ago, plans were made to construct Routes 21 and 22 and the Libyan airfield in the area of what is now the Ke Go reservoir, creating a new transportation artery to support the Southern battlefield. These projects commemorate the heroic deeds and silent sacrifices of the soldiers, youth volunteers, and local people. The Libyan airfield was the scene of fierce air raids by the US Air Force, and many soldiers perished in the waters of the Ke Go reservoir.

From 1998 to the present, the government and people of Ha Tinh province have exhumed hundreds of graves scattered in deep forests and at the bottom of lakes, gathering them at the Cam Xuyen District Martyrs' Cemetery, but most remain unidentified. Along with the government and people, the Management Board of the Ke Go Nature Reserve has also been searching for, connecting with, and meeting many witnesses to temporarily compile a list of 28 Youth Volunteers and 32 soldiers who died at the Libyan airfield. The idea of building a memorial to commemorate and honor those who fell remains a constant concern for the people and staff working at the Ke Go Nature Reserve.

Officials and staff of the Ke Go Nature Reserve Management Board planted trees in the area of the memorial to heroic martyrs at Ke Go Lake.

Mr. Nguyen Phi Cong, Deputy Director of the Ke Go Nature Reserve Management Board, shared: “Responding to the aspirations of many, the construction of the Heroic Martyrs' Memorial Temple at Ke Go Lake commenced in July 2022. With a total investment of over 10 billion VND from the joint efforts of organizations, individuals, and businesses, the project was invested in and divided into two phases, including construction and interior elements of the temple. To date, phase 2 has been completed. Those who fell on this land now have a place to offer incense and prayers; the land once riddled with bomb craters has become a significant site for educating future generations about our traditions.”

From that source of gratitude, numerous temples, memorials, and war relics have been built across the resilient land of Ha Tinh. Joining forces with organizations, individuals, and local authorities in this spirit of gratitude, volunteer activities such as environmental sanitation, beautifying memorial sites, and historical relics are regularly carried out by students. Each action, each deed, each flower, each candle, each incense stick… represents the profound gratitude of today's generation to the heroes and martyrs who fell for the independence and freedom of the nation.

Students participate in environmental sanitation work at historical sites.

With the tradition of remembering the source of one's blessings, the immortal song of the heroic sacrifice of those who fought to the death for the Fatherland continues to resonate in an endless stream of gratitude. The historical sites that educate about traditions and the stories of those who fell ignite the flame for today's generation to strive to build a strong and prosperous homeland, standing shoulder to shoulder with powerful nations, as President Ho Chi Minh always wished during his lifetime.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/nhung-bai-ca-bat-tu-post286658.html