Light the flame of tradition.

(GLO) - That was the significance of the Archival Document Exhibition combined with the return of personnel files of cadres who went to the South during the war, which took place on the morning of April 17th at the Gia Lai Provincial Museum grounds.

The program was organized by the Provincial People's Committee in coordination with the State Archives and Records Department to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025).

Attending the program were Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich; Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department Pham Huy Toan; Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department Ro Cham La Ni, along with representatives from the Provincial People's Council, the Provincial Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; and leaders of departments, agencies, units, and localities in the province. Also present were Mr. Pham Ngoc Hung - Deputy Director of the National Archives Center II and representatives from the Historical Archives Centers of Kon Tum, Phu Yen, Binh Dinh, Dak Lak , and Dak Nong provinces. Notably, the program included the presence of 11 former cadres who served in the South and relatives of 22 former cadres currently residing in the province.

Preserving and disseminating historical values.

In her opening remarks, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich affirmed: The exhibition is an opportunity to revisit the glorious pages of history through archival documents and sacred artifacts preserved at the National Archives Center. The artifacts and photographs in the files are not only personal images but also historical moments, capturing the portraits of people who lived and contributed during the most difficult times of the nation. The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee stated: "Exhibiting documents, images, artifacts, and files related to the war is a way for us to preserve this valuable heritage, while simultaneously spreading a message of gratitude and responsibility in safeguarding these historical values."

According to the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the return of 33 files and mementos to cadres and their relatives who went to the South during the war is a humane gesture, expressing the profound gratitude of the Party, the State, and the People for their silent contributions. Each memento, file, and photograph returned is a memory revived, a flame of tradition rekindled, so that present and future generations will forever remember the contributions of their forefathers.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich returns the files to the officials who went to the South during the war . Photo: PD

“The 50th anniversary of the liberation of Southern Vietnam and the reunification of the country is an opportunity for us to continue to promote the strength of great unity, transforming gratitude into motivation for practical actions. I call on all cadres, Party members, and people of the province to join hands in caring for the families of martyrs and those who have rendered meritorious services; preserving and spreading historical values; and striving to build our homeland into an increasingly civilized, prosperous, and beautiful place,” the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized.

Holding his application for going to the South more than half a century after submitting it to the Government's Unification Committee to prepare for the war, Mr. Dinh H'Nan (Dak Doa town) emotionally said: "I will bring it back and keep it carefully so that my children and grandchildren will understand the contributions of their ancestors to the revolution, and from there strive to study and work to build our homeland."

Mr. Do Xuan Quy's four-generation family poses for a commemorative photo with Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich. Photo: PD

Speaking about the reason for bringing his entire extended family, spanning four generations, to the ceremony to receive his father Do Nhu's (born in 1924) military service records, Mr. Do Xuan Quy, Chairman of the Pleiku City Labor Union, said: “I brought my mother, wife, children, and grandchildren here so that everyone can understand the traditions of our ancestors, so that our descendants can continue to build and protect the Vietnamese Fatherland, ensuring its continued existence and stability. It is truly a source of pride and emotion to receive my father's records and mementos, to see his familiar and beloved handwriting from years ago. All of this fills me with intense emotions. I hope that all the cadres who served in the South, as well as their relatives, who did not receive their records this time, will receive them in subsequent rounds.”

Even more proud of our country's history.

Following the handover ceremony of the documents related to the wartime resistance, delegates, officials, and relatives of those who served in the war visited the archival exhibition themed: “50 Years of Independence and National Unification: The Rise of the Basalt Land.” The exhibition, held from April 17th to 30th, 2025, consisted of two parts: “Passing Through the Flames of War” and “Rising Amidst the Great Mountains.” Over 300 documents, materials, images, and mementos showcased the history of resistance and nation-building by the people and military of Gia Lai province from the signing of the 1954 Geneva Accords until the liberation of the South and national unification; documents and images about the activities of the Gia Lai Party Committee and government in leading the people in building their homeland; and the outstanding achievements in the province's socio-economic development over the past 50 years.

Beyond its documentary value, with precious artifacts embodying the burning aspiration for a peaceful country—such as letters and mementos from cadres who served in the South—the exhibition also attracts visitors with its elaborate and creative display and decoration. These include a cargo bicycle, a filing cabinet shaped like the beloved letter S of the nation, and "memory boxes" containing vivid stories of a bygone era, all beautifully and respectfully displayed amidst a lush green space.

Many viewers were also surprised by the appearance of a scaled-down model of the M41 tank numbered 021, reconstructed by officers and soldiers of the 273rd Tank Brigade (34th Corps) in coordination with the Provincial Historical Archives Center. During the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, the crew of tank 021 fought bravely, destroying 7 enemy armored vehicles, contributing to the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country. For their exceptionally outstanding achievements, on December 16, 2014, the crew of tank 021 was awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the President of Vietnam.

The students enthusiastically learned about the exhibits on display at the exhibition. Photo: PD

Visiting the exhibition with her friends, La Thi Bao Ngoc (class 10B5, Le Loi High School, Pleiku City) shared her emotional feelings when looking at the records and artifacts of cadres who went to the South during the war, which made her even more proud of the country's history. "I want to tell my friends that today, we are living in a peaceful country, enjoying happiness and joy, so let's not forget the contributions of our ancestors, those who bravely fought so that we could have this day," Ngoc shared.

Most joyful of all were the former soldiers who had fought in the war. Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Lien (Pleiku City) recited a few lines of her own poem to express her feelings after 50 years of the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country: “My comrades/Who went through the battlefield are now sitting together/Time has turned our hair gray/But we still remember singing the marching song.”

Nothing is forgotten, especially the selfless dedication of a courageous generation in the struggle for national liberation, which brought about the springtime of the nation.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/thap-sang-ngon-lua-truyen-thong-post319356.html