Responsibility before history

There are wars that ended more than half a century ago but are not truly over. Because somewhere in the war cemeteries, there are still thousands of unnamed graves, and countless families are still waiting anxiously for the day their loved ones will return home in the final confirmation of history.

Therefore, the 500-day campaign to intensify the search, collection, and identification of the remains of fallen soldiers is not simply a time-limited action program, but a continuation of the moral principle of "drinking water, remembering the source" with the responsibility and conscience of the entire society. Party and State leaders have affirmed that this is a "command from the heart," not only a call to action for the forces carrying out the task, but also a reminder that gratitude should not stop at memory or memorial ceremonies, but must be realized through concrete actions.

This significance becomes even more profound when considering the practical implementation. In Hanoi alone, there are still over 8,000 unidentified graves requiring DNA testing of remains. The majority of these are graves from the resistance against the French , having undergone numerous relocations, renovations, and changes in terrain and natural conditions. With each passing year, historical records dwindle, witnesses age, and the memories of those who directly buried their comrades fade – this is the greatest challenge facing the campaign.

Therefore, the real concern is not the enormous workload, but the complacency with the usual pace. If we consider this merely an administrative task, we might easily accept delays based on objective reasons. But for the thousands of families of fallen soldiers who have waited for decades, each additional day is a day their hope is dashed. Time is no longer a measure of progress but a measure of responsibility. The longer the delay, the smaller the chance of identifying the deceased as biological evidence fades, witnesses disappear, and the last pieces of history are lost over time.

For Hanoi , that responsibility is even greater as the capital city possesses many favorable conditions to take the lead in implementing the central government's directives. Completing the survey and identification of all 340 martyrs' cemeteries; establishing working groups from the city level to the grassroots; developing procedures for sample collection, sample delivery, and data digitization; and updating tens of thousands of family member information into the National Population Database have created an important foundation for the next phase. But this foundation only truly becomes meaningful when it is translated into tangible results.

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To achieve this, we must first continue to uphold the spirit of the "six clear points" throughout the entire campaign implementation process. These include clear accountability, clear tasks, clear deadlines, clear expected results, clear coordination mechanisms, and clear responsibility of the leader.

Furthermore, Hanoi needs to strongly leverage its advantages as a digital city. Data on cemeteries, martyr records, population data, and DNA test results must be connected into a unified, synchronized system capable of sharing information seamlessly. Technology cannot replace the memory of history, but it can help preserve the remaining memories more fully, allowing for faster and more accurate comparisons.

Equally important is harnessing the power of the people. Promoting awareness campaigns should not only aim to enhance understanding, but also awaken a sense of responsibility and proactive participation from the entire society. When each citizen considers providing information as contributing to bringing a fallen soldier back to life with their name, the 500-day campaign to search for, collect, and identify the remains of fallen soldiers will truly become a widespread humanitarian movement.

With its tradition of humanity and compassion, the city's scientific and technological potential, and the support of central government agencies located within its boundaries, along with the coordinated efforts of the entire political system, Hanoi has all the necessary conditions to lead this journey. Because behind all the numbers, plans, and progress, the driving force behind every step of the campaign remains a simple yet sacred command: No martyr of the nation should be left to remain forever in anonymous waiting.

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Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/trach-nhiem-truoc-lich-su-1210669.html