In the modern life, when digital technology is on the rise, all information can be transmitted in a split second, the image of handwritten letters is gradually disappearing. However, for the naval soldiers who are on duty day and night at the forefront of the wind and waves, in the middle of the distant sea, handwritten letters from students from the mainland are still priceless gifts.
The neat lines on the paper carry pure feelings, sincere warmth sent through each word. For soldiers on remote islands, each handwritten letter is a word of encouragement, an unexpected joy expressing the deep and strong bond between the home front and the soldier - where love for the Fatherland is always transmitted through the simplest things.
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Students love writing and decorating letters and cards to send to soldiers. |
Towards the homeland's sea and islands, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Truong Sa archipelago, many schools across the country have had practical activities to educate students about patriotism and awareness of territorial sovereignty . One of the bright spots is Ninh Van Primary School, Hoa Lu city, Ninh Binh province. Teacher Dinh Thi Ngoc, Head of the Youth Union, has quietly sowed seeds of love through each page of her students' papers.
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For soldiers on remote islands, this is an extremely valuable spiritual gift. |
Ms. Ngoc encouraged students to write handwritten letters to the naval soldiers on duty in Truong Sa. At first, it was just a small activity during the Team meeting, but then the humanistic values through handwritten letters spread to the whole school. Teachers and students discussed and shared together, each stroke of the students' handwriting appeared full and soft through the tiny hands carefully writing each line. All carried strangely pure and sincere feelings.
Each letter had a wish and a message, and was decorated by the children with funny and cute drawings: a red sun on the blue sea, a soldier standing guard solemnly, the national flag proudly fluttering on the waves. Some children even carefully pasted dried flowers or folded the letter into a heart or flower shape.
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The teacher carefully checked each letter before sending it to the remote island. |
Behind each immature stroke of the pen is a childhood sky full of love and excitement. Along with the letters, the children also sent drawings, homemade postcards, and simple, cute wishes... All were carefully wrapped, sent through groups to visit Truong Sa, overcoming the storms to reach the soldiers at the forefront.
Sharing about this simple but meaningful activity, teacher Dinh Thi Ngoc expressed: "As a member of the Youth Union, I always wonder how to make the love for the Fatherland not simply in books, but so that the children will feel it with their hearts. Writing a handwritten letter is a small thing, but I believe it is a way for the children to connect with the soldiers who are silently sacrificing their own happiness for the peace of the country. When I read the innocent lines and sincere wishes of the children, I was deeply moved. The children are still young and do not fully understand the concept of sovereignty over seas and islands, but their feelings are very genuine. I believe that these simple things will follow them throughout their journey of adulthood."
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Small achievement but makes them very proud. |
Every year, when Tet holiday or important anniversaries of the country come, there are always hundreds, thousands of handwritten letters from all over the country collected by groups and clubs that love the sea and islands and sent to Truong Sa, DK1 Platform. Those who are in charge of collecting, packing and sending the letters are always emotional and careful because they understand: each letter is the beat of an innocent heart towards the sea and islands - the most gentle bridge that also has great spiritual strength.
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Letters are a spiritual gift of encouragement to every soldier. |
Handwritten letters from the mainland are always cherished by the navy, read over and over again. Many soldiers consider them a precious gift in the middle of the stormy sea and salty wind. Some soldiers fold the letters carefully and put them in their breast pockets; some press them into notebooks and occasionally open them to read, to feel their hearts warmed after long shifts at night on guard at sea; some units even set up letter frames in the common room, so that anyone passing by can stop for a few minutes, read a line of children's letters, admire the drawings and feel their hearts softened in the days away from the mainland.
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The children's loving handwriting. |
For soldiers on remote islands, each letter is like a miniature piece of land carrying the feelings of children, of the homeland, of the whole Fatherland always looking towards the sea. That is why handwritten letters are always cherished by soldiers as part of the most beautiful memories in the journey to protect sacred sovereignty.
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The joy of naval soldiers when reading letters from students on the mainland. |
For many years, before the ship leaves the port, the Chairman of the Vietnam Sea and Islands Association, Tran Vu Thanh, carefully checks again whether the boxes containing handwritten letters sent by students from all over the country have been properly preserved. After more than 10 years as a "mail carrier", he understands the duty of conveying the mainland's trust to the soldiers, and he cannot count how many handwritten letters he has delivered to Truong Sa...
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Reading letters by the waves... |
Sharing about that journey, Mr. Tran Vu Thanh expressed: "For a soldier, it is an extremely rich spiritual world . Once, a young soldier held a letter in his hand, read it over and over again, then whispered to me: "Since I came to the island, I have never met my relatives, but thanks to the children's letters, I have become more steadfast." During trips to remote islands and oil rigs... seemingly small things like children's letters create miraculous spiritual strength."
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For soldiers, reading letters is also a part of daily life. |
Half a century has passed since the liberation of Truong Sa, but the spirit of patriotism and the awareness of protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands is still kindled by the young generations. In the age of digital technology, simple handwritten letters are a way to educate traditional values, an act of fueling the fire so that Truong Sa is not far away, so that soldiers on remote islands can always feel: The country is one strip, the love for the Fatherland begins from the paper, the pure pen of students.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/nhung-la-thu-xuc-dong-gui-truong-sa-post876220.html
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