One hand holding the camera, the other wiping away tears

For me, journalism is not only recording events, but also preserving and recounting the most humane things.

2023 was my first year working at Hai Duong Newspaper (now Hai Duong Radio and Television), assigned to promote the Youth Union. At that time, I learned about a group of young people on social media who specialized in recreating photos of martyrs for free to send to families across the country. One of them was living in Hai Duong. I contacted them to write an article on the occasion of the War Invalids and Martyrs Day on July 27, but at that time I could only talk over the phone.

In December 2023, I had the opportunity to join the Hai Duong Provincial Youth Union and this group of young people to personally hand over the restored photos to the families of the Vietnamese Heroic Mothers in Nam Sach and Thanh Ha districts. That was the first time I worked directly with them. Although I had previously watched many videos about similar photo handovers, the moment I witnessed it with my own eyes was completely different.

I still clearly remember the image of mother Le Thi Luy in An Son commune (Nam Sach), who had two sons who were martyrs. When she received her son's photo, she hugged him tightly, calling each of his names: "Here is my son... my son... where is my son now...". At that moment, everyone in the group choked up. Tears fell silently, because no one could be hard-hearted before the deep maternal love, before the loss that never subsided.

One of the touching photos taken by reporters at the program "Hai Duong - Day of Return"

Since then, I have had many opportunities to accompany the group to give photos to other martyrs’ families. But not all mothers are still waiting for their children to return.

In March 2024, we went to Vinh Hoa commune (Ninh Giang) to present the photo to the family of martyr Ha Van Nghiep. When we learned that the martyr's mother had passed away less than 49 days ago, the whole group was stunned. The group tried to restore the scene as quickly as possible in the hope that the mother would "reunite" with her son after so many years apart. But the mother waited for her son, but time did not wait for her. The day we arrived, instead of presenting the photo to the mother, it was time to light incense on the small altar in the corner of the room.

That very evening, the group was determined to quickly restore the portraits of the martyrs who were the children of the heroic Vietnamese mothers still living in the province. An urgent plan was put forward. Each person had a task. All was to give the heroic Vietnamese mothers of Hai Duong a chance to see their children again at a very old age.

By early April 2024, less than a month later, the group had completed the restoration of 100 photos and presented them in the program "Hai Duong - Day of Return". The entire hall was silent when watching the film of that emotional journey. The tears of relatives when opening the national flag, when tremblingly reaching out to touch the faces of their loved ones through the photo, made the atmosphere sacred and emotional.

As a reporter, I understand that emotions are important, but the task is more important. In those emotional moments, I quickly wiped away my tears, observed, raised my camera and captured the most valuable moments. After that, the photo series I took at the program was shared by many large fanpages. But for me, the most valuable thing is not the number, but the value of the emotions and connections that are spread.

For me, journalism is not only about recording events, but also preserving and recounting the most humane and touching things about people, about family relationships, and about the memories that have not yet faded in the hearts of those who remain. And journalism has given me such memorable and meaningful years of youth.

LINH LINH

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/tay-cam-may-anh-tay-lau-nuoc-mat-414447.html