Honor and responsibility
On a Hanoi autumn day, golden sunlight bathes Ba Dinh Square. In this sacred space, where President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, tens of thousands of marching footsteps resound in perfect unison as they pass the ceremonial platform. And against a backdrop of stirring music, the voice of the narrator rings out, heroic yet approachable. It is the voice of Lieutenant Colonel Phan Hoang Minh, Deputy Political Commissar of the Command of Defense Zone 3 - Tan An Hoi.
Born in Cu Chi, the "land of steel and bronze," Lieutenant Colonel Phan Hoang Minh grew up surrounded by stories of the heroic resistance, where every inch of land was stained with the blood of his ancestors. Therefore, when he received the news that he had been selected to participate in the commentary team for the parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2nd, his heart was filled with honor and pride.
“This is not just a mission, but also a sacred occasion. Each commentary delivered will not simply be an introduction, but will also convey the spirit, enthusiasm, and belief of millions of Vietnamese people to the whole country and the world ,” Lieutenant Colonel Phan Hoang Minh shared.
However, along with the pride came immense pressure. Every word, rhythm, and tone had to be precise, solemn, and perfectly synchronized with the formation's movements. Lieutenant Colonel Phan Hoang Minh spent months practicing, refining every word, honing his voice, and regulating his breathing. He also proactively learned from experienced colleagues, including Major Tran Thi Kim Thu, a professional military officer who had given commentary at numerous major ceremonies.
“Ms. Thu’s voice is like a stream, sweet and smooth, making me realize that narration isn’t just about perfect pronunciation, but also about the art of conveying emotion. Thanks to her, I love my voice even more, cherish every moment in front of the microphone, and strive every day to fulfill my dream of singing in Ba Dinh Square,” he recounted.
Lieutenant Colonel Phan Hoang Minh also shared that during training, there were times when he read "at full volume" thinking that the stronger the voice, the better, but he received feedback that his vocal range was flat and lacked depth. Initially, he felt sad and worried, but that motivated him to work harder. Every day, he persistently practiced his vocals, adjusted his rhythm, maintained a humble and receptive attitude so that his reading voice would be both accurate and expressive.
“While standing in the commentary position and watching each contingent march past the reviewing stand, the first thing that came to mind was national pride, the invincible strength of national unity. The straight lines and footsteps, the solemn and majestic formation, were the result of countless days of training and sweat on the training ground, regardless of the harsh heat. I clearly felt the determination, unwavering will, and dedication of my comrades and fellow soldiers, and I told myself that I must try my best to be worthy of the values, efforts, and trust that everyone has placed in me,” he shared.
A voice from the heart
Having served as a commentator at the 70th anniversary celebration of the Dien Bien Phu victory and many other major events and holidays, Senior Lieutenant Le Thi Ngoc Han, an officer from the Political Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Command, still trembled with emotion when holding the microphone in Ba Dinh Square.
“Both events were grand ceremonies with profound historical significance, leaving a special mark on my heart. This time, the ceremony was organized on a larger scale, with more elaborate preparations and a much broader scope. Therefore, I dedicated a lot of time to training and preparing thoroughly to best represent the spirit of the ceremony, contributing a small part to the overall success of a major national event,” Lieutenant Le Thi Ngoc Han shared.
She said that in the script for the commentary, every word was carefully considered and refined to encapsulate the heroic spirit of the parade formations and honor the heroic traditions of each force. Each contingent that passed by evoked strong emotions in her, but perhaps the moment that brought her to tears the most was when she introduced the Southern Women's Guerrilla contingent, the brave "Miss Ba"s, and the female commando unit of Military Region 7. This was because it brought to mind the familiar image of the women of Southern Vietnam, the place where she was born, and where she had heard stories from her grandparents and parents about the steadfastness of generations of Southern Vietnamese women who shouldered both the home front and the battlefront, writing an indomitable chapter in history.
Behind the microphone, Ngoc Han is also the mother of three young children, including twins. Traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to the National Military Training Center 4 in Mieu Mon for her duties, she has to be away from her children for months at a time. “There are times when I’m stressed, pressured, and miss my children so much I cry, but just thinking about my family and my responsibility as a soldier gives me strength. And most importantly, I want my children to know that their mother once played a small part in this historic day for our country.”
Performing duties far from home, and with only her family backing her, Senior Lieutenant Le Thi Ngoc Han and her comrades always receive close attention and guidance from their superiors. Lieutenant Colonel Phan Hoang Minh and Senior Lieutenant Le Thi Ngoc Han always remember the advice of Colonel Nguyen Thanh Trung, Political Commissar of the Ho Chi Minh City Command: "You must always strive and be determined to successfully complete this important mission."
The dry season at Mieu Mon
On June 4th, Le Thao Ngan (born in 2001), a young woman from the Southern Women's Guerrilla Unit, officially boarded a train to Hanoi for training to carry out mission A80. She shared with us that she had always dreamed of setting foot in Hanoi once, and longed to walk through the historic Ba Dinh Square...
For months on end, the sun blazed down, sweat constantly drenched the soldiers' uniforms on the training ground, sometimes accompanied by sudden downpours. Every day, the soldiers woke up at 4:30 a.m. to be at the training ground by 5:30 a.m. "Seeing our comrades striving every day, we couldn't afford to lose heart or give up," Thao Ngan said.
Recalling the days of rehearsals and joint training, when marching through Ba Dinh Square and along the streets, seeing thousands of people welcoming them... Ngan said that was the moment she felt most strongly the warm affection that the people had for the A80 marching contingent, including those from the South. “The people are giving us strength every day. The entire contingent will try its best to excellently complete the mission, not letting down the trust and love of the people,” Ngan shared.
The sunset stretched across the Mieu Mon training ground. In the fiery red twilight, the image of the female soldiers not only represented the women of Southern Vietnam participating in this momentous occasion, but also depicted the image of the mothers and sisters of Southern Vietnam who sacrificed themselves for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.
Recently, a delegation of Ho Chi Minh City leaders, led by Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, Tran Thi Dieu Thuy, visited and encouraged officers and soldiers of Military Region 7 who are participating in training for parades and marches in preparation for the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2nd.
Here, Comrade Tran Thi Dieu Thuy expressed her appreciation for the sense of responsibility and determination of the officers and soldiers of the male and female units, as well as the management staff and teachers. She also emphasized that the anniversary celebration is a major political event for the nation, an opportunity to honor the glorious traditions, promote the image of Vietnam to the world, and affirm the strength of national unity. Participating in the parade at Ba Dinh Square is not only a great honor but also a noble responsibility for each officer and soldier, representing Ho Chi Minh City and the beloved South.
The Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee urged the forces to continue focusing intensely on physical training, technical skills, and demeanor; overcoming all difficulties related to weather and training intensity; maintaining discipline, and upholding the qualities of "Uncle Ho's soldiers," so that every step on Ba Dinh Square exudes the spirit and pride of the Southern armed forces.
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/ren-minh-phuc-vu-cong-tac-dai-le-post810902.html
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