Generation Z learns history in a way that isn't boring.

Union members and students listen to traditional stories about People's Armed Forces Hero Tran Thi Quang Man at Giong Rieng Martyrs Cemetery.

On a weekend morning, the Giong Rieng Martyrs Cemetery was quiet in the solemn atmosphere of a special storytelling session. No podium, no lesson plans, but nearly 100 students and members of the Giong Rieng Commune Youth Union attentively listened to the story of People's Armed Forces Hero Tran Thi Quang Man.

Mrs. Tran Thi Quang Man was born in 1926, in Vinh Thanh commune, Giong Rieng district, Kien Giang province (old). In 1945, she disguised herself as a man to go to the battlefield, fought in the U Minh Thuong area and held the position of company commander. Once captured by the enemy, she was sentenced to 12 years of hard labor, suffering many tortures but still resolutely refused to confess.

After being released in 1966, she continued her revolutionary activities. In 1967, she was awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces and had the honor of meeting Uncle Ho in Hanoi . In 1994, she was awarded the title of Heroic Mother of Vietnam. She passed away in 2021 and was buried at the Giong Rieng Martyrs Cemetery...

Local leaders, union members and students of Giong Rieng commune visited the tomb of People's Armed Forces Hero Tran Thi Quang Man.

The atmosphere of the storytelling session became even quieter when Mr. Tran Van Hong, former Vice President of the Veterans Association of Giong Rieng Commune, stopped at the details of the unnamed graves, the soldiers who remained, whose faces and names no one remembered. The stone tablets engraved with the words “Martyrs”, with unknown names, became a reminder of the silent sacrifice, without asking for recognition.

Mr. Tran Van Hong was moved: “I am very happy and proud to share the stories of our predecessors with the students and union members today. Looking at the attentive eyes and respectful actions of the students at each martyr’s grave, I believe that history has not been forgotten. I hope that the younger generation will always remember the contributions of their ancestors, live with ideals, be grateful and continue to build our homeland better and better.”

Youth and armed forces of Giong Rieng cleaned, weeded, and changed flowers at Giong Rieng Martyrs Cemetery.

After the story, the students and members of the union walked towards the memorial pillar, each person took turns lighting incense in memory, their eyes shining with emotion. Many bowed their heads for a long time before each stele, as if wanting to engrave in their hearts their infinite gratitude.

The children took turns cleaning the cemetery area, weeding around the graves, wiping the headstones, replacing vases and flowers on each grave… seemingly simple actions but filled with gratitude.

Nguyen Ngoc Thien Kim, a student at Giong Rieng High School, shared: “I feel very proud to participate in today’s activity. There are people who are only eighteen years old, the same age as me now, who have sacrificed for national independence. I will try to study well to become a useful citizen, not letting down the previous generation.”

Nguyen Nhu Ngoc, a member of the Giong Rieng Commune Youth Union, said: “I have participated in this activity many times, and each time it brings me different emotions. Each time, my gratitude and sense of responsibility grow. I think this is a way to help us understand history more deeply and live with more ideals.”

Union members and students change flowers, clean tombstones, and pay tribute to unknown martyrs.

The Giong Rieng Martyrs Cemetery has 2,631 graves, including 954 unknown graves. Secretary of the Giong Rieng Commune Youth Union Le Thi To Quyen said: “Every year, the Commune Youth Union organizes traditional education activities like this so that students and union members can directly experience history. Not only learning through books, but seeing, hearing and doing is an effective way of education , helping students to deeply understand the spirit of patriotism, the morality of drinking water and remembering its source, and living responsibly in the present.”

Article and photos: BICH THUY

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/the-he-z-hoc-su-theo-cach-khong-nham-chan-a425103.html