Solemn and emotional memorial service and burial of 18 martyrs' remains at Ia Boong

Solemn gratitude ceremony

Attending the ceremony, on the Central side were comrade Le Thi Thuy - Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Government Party Committee; representative of the National Steering Committee 515; leaders of the Command and Steering Committee 515 of Military Region 5, Army Corps 34, and Army Corps 15.

On the side of Gia Lai province, there were comrades: Pham Anh Tuan - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Truong Van Dat - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial Steering Committee 515; together with former provincial leaders of different periods; representatives of departments, branches, unions, armed forces and a large number of local people.

Delegates attended the memorial service and burial of martyrs at Chu Prong Martyrs Cemetery. **Photo: MP**

In a solemn atmosphere, delegates performed the bell ringing ceremony, offered flowers and incense in memory.

Each incense stick is not only a tribute but also a reminder to today's and future generations about the value of peace , about the responsibility to preserve the revolutionary achievements that previous generations exchanged with blood, bones and youth.

Chairman of Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee Pham Anh Tuan (right) and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich (left) and leaders of Chu Prong commune perform the bell-ringing ceremony. **Photo: MP**

Scene of the ceremony to pay respect and offer flowers to martyrs. **Photo: MP**

During the two long resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism, Gia Lai was always a key battlefield, holding a special strategic position in Inter-zone 5 and the Central Highlands.

Under the leadership of the Party, the army and people of all ethnic groups in Gia Lai fought bravely, achieving many glorious victories such as: Dak Po Victory (1954), the battles of Ka Nak, Thanh An, Le Thanh, Phu Nhon (1960), Plei Me Campaign (1965), Mau Than General Offensive (1968)... and the peak was on March 17, 1975, Gia Lai was completely liberated, contributing significantly to the Great Spring Victory of 1975, bringing the country back together.

Provincial leaders performed the ceremony of moving the martyrs' remains to the burial site. **Photo: MP**

Chu Prong land - the border area adjacent to Cambodia is the strategic gateway of the Central Highlands, where many main units such as: Regiments 33, 66, 95, 320; Division 10, Division 968 along with many armed propaganda forces, militia and guerrillas. Many fierce battles took place here: Ia Drang, Plei Me, Ia Boong, Ia Mor, Ia Puch, Duc Co, Bau Can...

Every inch of land, every stream is soaked with the blood and tears of countless soldiers, becoming immortal witnesses of Vietnamese revolutionary heroism.

Delegates offer incense to pay respect to martyrs. **Photo: MP**

From ancient battlefields to today's cemeteries

For many months, Team K52 (Gia Lai Province Military Command) has been persistently staying in the Ia Boong forest - where fierce battles once took place - to search for and collect the remains of martyrs. Searching for and collecting martyrs is the great wish of the Party, the State and the relatives of the martyrs' families.

More than half a century has passed, with the direction of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Committee, the coordination of Steering Committee 515 and local authorities, 18 martyrs' remains have been gathered and brought back for burial at Chu Prong Martyrs' Cemetery - where motherland Gia Lai welcomes them to rest in eternal peace.

Soldiers of the provincial armed forces perform the funeral rites for martyrs. **Photo: MP**

Amidst the solemn sound of the bell, children offered flowers; the delegation respectfully offered incense in memory. A sacred atmosphere enveloped the cemetery.

Speaking at the ceremony, Comrade Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial Steering Committee 515, emotionally said: "The martyrs lived a meaningful youth, fought steadfastly, and heroically sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the nation. Their blood has mixed with the red soil of the Central Highlands so that today the people can enjoy prosperity and the country can be at peace. The Fatherland and the people will forever remember their contributions."

Chairman of Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee Pham Anh Tuan scatters flowers on the graves of martyrs. **Photo: MP**

Among hundreds of people attending the ceremony, Mr. Ngo Minh Hien (Nguyen Van Linh commune, Hung Yen province), a relative of martyr Ngo Dinh Hao, quietly held incense, his eyes filled with tears.

He said that his family had three martyrs, including his uncle Ngo Dinh Hao, who died in 1971 in Ia Boong. After many years of searching and extracting records from the Gia Lai Provincial Military Command, the family was able to determine the location where he died.

Mr. Ngo Minh Hien (Nguyen Van Linh commune, Hung Yen province), a relative of martyr Ngo Dinh Hao, lights incense at the martyr's grave. **Photo: MP**

“When I heard that Team K52 found 18 martyrs’ remains in this area, I was extremely moved. Although we cannot confirm the exact identity, it is possible that my uncle is among them. The family hopes that the authorities will soon conduct DNA tests to return the names of the martyrs, so that Uncle Hao can return to his homeland. If we can confirm their identities, we will continue our journey to find the two remaining uncles, one who died in Hue, the other in An Giang,” Mr. Hien shared, choking with emotion.

Next to Mr. Hien, many veterans and local people also quietly burned incense and shed tears. Mr. Pham Van Tung (Ia Boong commune) emotionally said: "The soldiers of Team K52 worked very hard, they did not get discouraged by the rain and wind. Now seeing them brought back to the cemetery, everyone is moved and proud. We vow to teach our children and grandchildren to live well, worthy of that sacrifice."

Delegates respectfully bowed to pay tribute to the martyrs. **Photo: MP**

Gratitude and Continuity

When the funeral trumpet sounded amidst the lingering smoke of incense, they had returned peacefully in the arms of their comrades and compatriots. And as the final words of the funeral oration resounded in the quiet November afternoon: “Farewell, martyrs! We vow to unite as one, to continue on the path that the Party, Uncle Ho and you have chosen. We vow to do our best to build a strong and prosperous Vietnam, a democratic, fair and civilized society. May the martyrs rest in peace in the bosom of the heroic motherland of Gia Lai”.

Scene of the martyrs' funeral. Photo: MP

In the sacred space of Chu Prong Martyrs Cemetery, you have returned to the arms of your comrades, teammates and people, to rest eternally in the heroic land of the Central Highlands. In the beloved motherland, you will rest in peace forever.

The blood and bones of the heroic martyrs have become the sacred soul of the mountains and rivers, beautifying the tradition of steadfast revolutionary struggle of Gia Lai homeland. Each grave is an immortal heroic epic, reminding the present and future generations to always remember the merits of those who fell for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.

Chairman of Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee Pham Anh Tuan praised the officers and soldiers of Team K52 for successfully completing the task of searching for and collecting the remains of martyrs. **Photo: MP**

Immediately after the ceremony, Chairman of Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee Pham Anh Tuan presented gifts and encouraged and commended the soldiers of Team K52 for successfully completing the task of searching and collecting the remains of martyrs in areas E7, H5 (now Ia Boong commune).

Some images recorded by reporters at the memorial service and burial of 18 martyrs' remains at the Martyrs' Cemetery of Chu Prong commune (Gia Lai province):