Footsteps "against the mountains"

More than five years ago, the name Vi Van Luan, a Thai ethnic minority from Tam Chung commune and a former police officer in Pu Nhi commune, became an unforgettable memory for the local people. On the afternoon of February 6, 2021, during a drug trafficking operation on the border, Major Vi Van Luan and his colleagues ambushed and apprehended a group of suspects illegally transporting drugs from Ta Com village, Trung Ly commune, to Mau village, Muong Ly commune. When discovered, the suspects fiercely resisted with muzzle-loading rifles. He was hit by a bullet and died on the spot. He passed away at the age of 40, leaving behind his young wife, Ngan Thi An, and two young children.

The Thanh Hoa Provincial Police delegation visited and presented gifts to the family of martyr Thao Van Sua in Pu Nhi commune.

In Nhi Son commune, the story of People's Armed Forces Hero Thao Van Sua is still recounted every rainy season. In 2019, when Typhoon No. 3 hit the area, he left his shelter and went from house to house urging people to evacuate. During the night, he managed to get many people out of areas at risk of landslides. On his way back to check on things, he was buried under rocks and soil. That same night, the flood swept away his family's house, leaving his wife and three young children penniless.

Two stories, two different time periods, but both left families without a breadwinner. For many years afterward, local police forces, organizations, and colleagues maintained visits, support, and assistance to help these families stabilize their lives. However, this support was primarily provided by individual units and individuals, lacking uniformity in methods and duration.

From the beginning of 2026, Program No. 01 of the Provincial Police Director on sponsoring, supporting, and caring for orphaned children and children in difficult circumstances will be implemented synchronously throughout the province. Previously voluntary and fragmented activities are now consolidated and standardized into a unified approach. Each case is reviewed at the grassroots level, a specific file is created, a sponsoring unit is assigned, and clear responsibilities are given to each organization and individual. Support goes beyond financial assistance; it is linked to monitoring the children's studies, daily lives, and long-term career guidance. Through this approach, caring for the families of martyrs and children in difficult circumstances is no longer short-term support, but becomes a planned and closely monitored process. Peace – therefore – is not just about the quiet after a tragedy, but about ensuring that the families left behind are supported, that the children continue to attend school, and that they have a place to rely on.

The journeys of officers and soldiers into remote areas have thus become a regular occurrence. They don't wait for holidays or festivals; they are present at important moments in the children's lives: the first day of school, times of illness, or when they face their first career choices. Some sit by the fire, listening to their children talk about their studies. Others step in to handle family matters that the children cannot manage on their own.

Recently, Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Thi Chung, Head of the Women's Committee of the Provincial Police, along with Major Le Duy Linh, Head of the Youth Committee of the Provincial Police, and a delegation visited to pay respects to martyrs Vi Van Luan and Thao Van Sua. Tight hugs spoke louder than words. Vi Viet Dung, the son of martyr Luan, who once stood silently before his father's altar, now grown older, still nestled in the arms of his "mothers" upon reunion. This closeness didn't come from a single visit, but was nurtured through their regular presence over many years and has been even more evident since the implementation of Program No. 01.

From that companionship, each child grows up in their own way. Vi Ngan Thuong, the eldest daughter of martyr Luan, is currently a student at the School of Culture ( Ministry of Public Security ). Her educational journey is extended by the care of her father's comrades and further shaped as the program becomes more organized. Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Thi Chung, Head of the Women's Committee of the Provincial Public Security Department, said: "We not only provide monthly financial support, but also take responsibility for raising the children to adulthood alongside the families." With support levels determined until 2030, the program ensures that the children have stable learning conditions. Monthly, officers in the area visit to assess the situation; annually, working groups continue to visit the grassroots level to inspect, support, and resolve any difficulties that arise.

In Pá Hộc village, Pù Nhi commune, the family of martyr Thao Văn Súa has gradually stabilized their lives. Their stilt house, swept away by floods years ago, has been replaced with a new one thanks to support from the Ministry of Public Security and the Provincial Police. Under that roof, his children receive guardianship, with someone regularly monitoring their studies and daily lives. His second daughter, Thao Thị Kía, has graduated from the intermediate level program at the People's Police College I and hopes to return to work in her hometown. His youngest daughter, Thao Hậu Phương, is currently a first-year student at Thanh Hóa Medical College. Commune police officers regularly visit the family, checking on their studies, reminding them of their daily routines, and providing timely support when the family faces difficulties. This support goes beyond immediate assistance and aims to help the family gradually stabilize their lives after their loss.

Beyond simply showing gratitude, the provincial police force has gradually standardized the previously implemented support activities into a systematic approach. To date, nearly 100 disadvantaged children have received sponsorship. In communes such as Muong Lat and Quan Son, each case has a specific unit or individual in charge. Local police directly monitor their children's education, daily lives, and career guidance. Simultaneously, social resources are connected to maintain long-term support. The program also focuses on creating livelihoods for mothers through livestock and crop farming models, helping families gradually stabilize their lives.

Traveling along the border these days, one can notice a significant change. Peace shines in the eyes of the people. When asked about his dreams, Vi Viet Dung said he wanted to become a police officer like his father. A short answer, but enough to show the path ahead. At the end of the trip, we remembered the words of a provincial police leader: "We cannot bring them back, but we must fulfill our responsibilities to their families so that they can rest in peace."

Text and photos: Tang Thuy

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/nhung-buoc-chan-nguoc-ngan-287075.htm