Returning names to martyrs using empirical methods

Over the years, with the motto "Eat home and do good deeds", the Vietnam Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs has spread gratitude activities, contributing to returning names to martyrs and easing the pain of war.

A reporter from the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) had an interview with Lieutenant General Hoang Khanh Hung, Chairman of the Vietnam Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs, regarding this topic.

General, could you share some of the outstanding achievements that the Association has accomplished in honoring fallen soldiers recently?

During its third term (2020-2025), the Vietnam Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs shifted its focus to information sharing, with veterans supplementing information on the graves of unidentified martyrs using verifiable methods. As a result, over the past five years, information on 462 martyrs' graves has been corrected.

In reality, DNA testing of the remains of fallen soldiers at some cemeteries has shown a low success rate due to the decay of the bones.

Lieutenant General Hoang Khanh Hung, Chairman of the Vietnam Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs, shared his thoughts on the work of honoring martyrs.

In addition, the Association has actively supported the repatriation of the remains of fallen soldiers to their hometowns; linking the development of the Association's organizations at all levels with the work of showing gratitude, especially in Central Vietnam.

2025 is a special year for the Association as it marks 15 years of establishment and growth. The Association is preparing for its 4th National Congress. In this context, the entire Association system is carrying out activities to express gratitude.

As of October 8th, through the 2707 Martyrs' Memorial Charity Account - Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank, we have mobilized over 2.2 billion VND for memorial work. Notably, the Dong Nai Provincial Veterans Association alone has contributed over 432.5 million VND to account 2707 to support the memorial work for martyrs. If the remaining 33 Veterans Associations in provinces and cities also implement similar activities to support the memorial work for martyrs, we will certainly have a very large resource to carry out memorial work according to the motto "real people, real work, on-site support, dedication, compassion, and effectiveness".

Our association employs various methods of resource mobilization, and over the past 15 years, the association and its branches have raised over 170 billion VND from the community to honor fallen soldiers.

These resources have helped the Association implement many meaningful programs: distributing thousands of gifts to Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, relatives of martyrs, and disadvantaged policy beneficiary families in localities such as Hanoi , Nghe An, Quang Tri, Cao Bang, Thai Nguyen…; supporting cases of relocating the remains of martyrs back to their hometowns; awarding houses of compassion and many gifts on major holidays such as July 27th, the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, and National Day on September 2nd…

Along with activities expressing gratitude, the organization and development of the Association have also undergone many innovations, especially with the implementation of the two-tiered government system. Could the Lieutenant General elaborate on this?

Besides paying tribute to martyrs, the Association places great emphasis on strengthening and developing its organization so that its activities become more systematic and widespread.

Currently, we are merging and renaming some provincial-level associations to better reflect the current situation. In particular, in Hung Yen, for the first time, a branch of the Vietnam Martyrs' Family Support Association has been established, comprised entirely of children and relatives of martyrs, and will be launched on October 7, 2025. From now until the General Assembly (after the merger of Thai Binh into Hung Yen), we aim to establish 10 to 12 new branches (from the former Hung Yen), bringing the total number of affiliated branches to 16-17...

In Quang Ninh, after receiving approval from the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee, the Quang Ninh Provincial Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs is expected to be established on October 13th, bringing together 70 members.

Ho Chi Minh City, after merging with Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Binh Duong, will hold its first term congress on October 16th, combined with paying tribute to 20 Vietnamese Heroic Mothers and relatives of martyrs, and presenting gifts to some severely wounded veterans in the area…

Regarding international cooperation, what notable activities has the Association undertaken recently, General?

External relations are a key focus. We maintain cooperation with the University of Georgia (USA), the United States Institute of Peace, and specialized domestic units to apply science and technology in the search for and identification of the remains of fallen soldiers.

Currently, the Association is coordinating a survey in the Da Nang area, where the US provided information about a mass grave of Vietnamese soldiers. We plan to continue the survey at Loc Ninh Airport (Dong Nai province) this October. We are also in the process of acquiring radar technology for locating the remains of fallen soldiers – a significant step forward in using modern technology to honor and locate the remains of fallen soldiers.

General, could you please share more about the preparations for the 4th National Congress of the Association?

The 4th Congress of the Association, for the 2025-2030 term, is scheduled to take place in early December 2025. We are urgently finalizing the political report, personnel plan, revised charter, activity plan, and infrastructure requirements for submission to the Ministry of Interior for approval. Given that Vietnam still has 34 provinces and cities, and with the implementation of a two-tiered local government model, the relationship between the Vietnam Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs and the local associations for supporting families of martyrs needs to be even closer and more standardized. According to Article 17 of Government Decree No. 126/2024/ND-CP dated October 8, 2024, on the organization, operation, and management of associations, the association's members include official members, associate members, and honorary members as stipulated in the association's charter. In this system, official members are Vietnamese organizations and citizens who agree to the association's charter and voluntarily register to join the association.

Article 9 of the Charter of the Vietnam Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs stipulates the obligations of its members, requiring them to strictly adhere to the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's laws and regulations, and the Association's Charter and regulations. In other words, all organizations and individuals, whether full or associate members, must comply with the Charter of the Vietnam Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs and the directives and guidance of the Executive Committee, Standing Committee, and Executive Board of the Association.

Prior to the Congress, the Association will continue to promote activities of gratitude, especially correcting information on martyrs' tombstones, conducting DNA testing, assisting in the relocation of remains, and giving gifts to disadvantaged families of martyrs.

We believe that when every citizen and every member joins hands, "eating at home but doing good deeds," the work of honoring martyrs will become increasingly profound, substantive, and widespread. The Vietnam Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs always aims to restore the names of martyrs, bring comfort to their relatives and families, so that the work of honoring martyrs is not only a responsibility but also a journey of the heart.

Thank you very much, Lieutenant General!

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/xa-hoi/tra-lai-ten-cho-cac-liet-si-bang-phuong-phap-thuc-chung-20251010155608879.htm