The Southern people's affection for the former President...

In the crowd quietly waiting for their turn to pay their respects, veteran Vu Thi Minh Thai (84 years old, residing in Phu Thanh ward, Tan Phu district, Ho Chi Minh City) stood silently in the hallway of the hall. Her face was filled with emotion when she recalled her memories with former President Tran Duc Luong: “I used to study at Nguyen Nghiem Secondary School, Duc Pho town, Quang Ngai province with comrade Tran Duc Luong but was two grades younger. He was a gentle, hard-working, studious person, loved by teachers and friends. Later, when he became head of state, he still maintained that simplicity and his heart for the people became even more expansive. President Tran Duc Luong made many important contributions to promoting Vietnam-US relations after the normalization of relations. He was the one who brought the country firmly up in the international arena, after years full of challenges”.

Veteran Vu Thi Minh Thai arrives at the Reunification Hall area.

The Glorious Soldier Medal awarded to veteran Vu Thi Minh Thai was signed byPresident Tran Duc Luong.

Mrs. Thai opened her old phone and showed us a photo of the Third Class Medal of Honor that she was honored to receive in 2001, with the signature of President Tran Duc Luong on it. “This is a souvenir of my entire revolutionary life. To me, comrade Tran Duc Luong was a talented and virtuous leader and also a friendly brother to the students at my old school,” Mrs. Thai said.

In the solemn space of the condolence book writing room, each blank page seemed to be filled with grief and respect for a man who devoted his entire life to the Party and the nation. Sitting quietly writing the memorial, Colonel Nguyen Hai Nam, Commander of Division 5 (Military Region 7), could not hide his emotions. Not only as a commanding officer in the Vietnam People's Army, he also carried in his heart the deep gratitude of today's soldiers for a leader who sowed confidence and aroused aspirations in the cause of protecting and building the Fatherland.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Quai and her family came to pay their respects to former President Tran Duc Luong.

Colonel Nguyen Hai Nam shared: "The trust that generations of leaders such as President Tran Duc Luong have placed in the people's armed forces has become the driving force for today's generation of soldiers to train, strive, and constantly improve their combat capabilities, while remaining steadfast in politics , ideology, and revolutionary ethics."

On the waiting bench, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Quai (90 years old, from Tam Nghia commune, Nui Thanh district, Quang Nam province) also expressed her infinite sorrow. "I came from Quang Nam to Ho Chi Minh City to visit my children and grandchildren. When I heard that the funeral of former President Tran Duc Luong was being held at Thong Nhat Hall, my family and I came here early to burn incense and pay our respects to him," Mrs. Quai shared.

People of Ho Chi Minh City pay their respects to former President Tran Duc Luong.

Ms. Quai emotionally shared that former President Tran Duc Luong was from Quang Ngai, also a hard-working son of the Central region, so the people loved him very much - a person who always lived close to the people, was simple, and devoted himself to caring for the country and the people.

Joining the delegation of Ho Chi Minh City youth to pay their respects to former President Tran Duc Luong, Nguyen Thi Phuong Huyen, President of the Student Association of Saigon University of Technology, shared in an emotional voice: “We were born in peacetime, living in peace and developing thanks to the dedication of outstanding leaders like former President Tran Duc Luong. Through lessons and history, I understand the dedication and great contributions of former President Tran Duc Luong to the country. As a young generation, I and today's students continue to follow the example of the previous generation, strive to study, dedicate, and contribute to the cause of building and protecting the country.”

People come to pay their respects to former President Tran Duc Luong.

Among the crowd paying their respects to former President Tran Duc Luong, Ms. Huynh Thi Phuc, Cao Dai Chon Ly Church (76 years old, residing in Tien Giang province) shared that she and other members of the church had left at 5am to arrive at the Thong Nhat Hall to pay their respects to former President Tran Duc Luong. The church expressed its deep gratitude for comrade Tran Duc Luong's contributions to the nation and country, especially his important contributions to the activities of religious organizations living "a good life, a good religion".

During the day, according to our records, many delegations representing central agencies based in Ho Chi Minh City, agencies, units of the city, southern localities, and many people from all walks of life... came to pay their respects to former President Tran Duc Luong, demonstrating their deep gratitude and sincere respect for a leader who devoted his entire life, lived an honest and simple life, and always served the country and the people.

Write emotional messages about former President Tran Duc Luong at the funeral.

Mourning the outstanding son of the country, the loyal communist soldier, the talented and kind leader, the people of the South always remember the marks that former President Tran Duc Luong left behind, further fueling the motivation to work, produce, and compete to achieve many achievements in the new development stage of the country.

Article and photos: KHOA OANH - THANH THU

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Source: https://baodaknong.vn/tinh-cam-nhan-dan-mien-nam-danh-cho-nguyen-chu-tich-nuoc-tran-duc-luong-253525.html