Paying tribute to those who have contributed, as Uncle Ho instructed.

Every July, along with the silent burning of incense at the graves and the flickering candlelight at the martyrs' cemeteries, the hearts of Vietnamese people are filled with emotion as they remember the millions of sons and daughters who fell for independence and freedom. The War Invalids and Martyrs' Day on July 27th is a sacred reminder of the principle of "drinking water, remembering the source."

On September 2, 1955, President Ho Chi Minh and other Party and State leaders laid wreaths at Mai Dich Cemetery in Hanoi to commemorate fallen soldiers. **(Photo: Ho Chi Minh Museum)**

Great thoughts, a big heart for those who sacrificed themselves.

As early as June 1947, amidst the fierce bombing of the resistance war against French colonialism, President Ho Chi Minh directed that a day be chosen for the whole nation to remember and pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives or shed their blood for the Fatherland.

In a letter sent to the Standing Committee of the Organizing Committee for the "National War Invalids Day" dated July 17, 1947, President Ho Chi Minh emphasized: "War invalids are those who have sacrificed their families and their blood to protect the Fatherland and their compatriots. For the benefit of the Fatherland and its people, these comrades have endured illness and disability. Therefore, the Fatherland and its people must be grateful and must help these heroic sons."

In his Letter to Wounded Soldiers, Sick Soldiers, and Families of Martyrs on July 27, 1956, President Ho Chi Minh shared , "Wounded soldiers, sick soldiers, military families, and families of martyrs are those who have contributed to the Fatherland and the people. Therefore, it is our duty to be grateful, to love, and to help them."

His words were not merely a moral command, but also a profound human truth: that the blood of the soldiers had watered this land, and the nation could not move forward without bowing in gratitude to the past.

In Ho Chi Minh's thought, the wounded soldier was not just a returning soldier, but a living symbol of patriotism, indomitable will, and heroic spirit. " The blood of those martyrs made the revolutionary flag even brighter red. The heroic sacrifice of the martyrs prepared the ground for our country to blossom with independence and bear the fruits of freedom."

These are the heartfelt words of the nation's revered father, a silent tribute from the heart to those who will never return.

Concrete intentions, practical actions.

Uncle Ho's profound ideas were always accompanied by concrete, simple yet deeply moving actions. From the early years of the nation's founding, he dedicated a portion of his salary to supporting the War Invalids Fund, sent Tet gifts, wrote letters of inquiry, and regularly visited rehabilitation centers and hospitals to see war invalids and wounded soldiers.

The letter sent to the Standing Committee of the Organizing Committee for the "National War Invalids Day" on July 17, 1947, included the following passage: "I volunteer to send a silk undershirt given to me by the women, one month's salary, one meal for myself, and meals for the staff at the Presidential Palace, totaling one thousand one hundred and twenty-seven dong (1,127đ.00)."

His actions were not ostentatious, but deeply humane. He viewed caring for wounded soldiers and martyrs as a moral responsibility and also a condition for strengthening national unity – where gratitude becomes the enduring glue between generations.

Remember His words

Seventy-eight years have passed since President Ho Chi Minh wrote a letter to wounded soldiers, but the spirit of that letter remains as valuable as ever. It serves as a reminder that gratitude should not be limited to July 27th, but must be a regular, continuous, concrete, and responsible act.

Youth union members visited and presented gifts to Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hoai Nam (born in 1953, residing in Quy Nhon ward) (far right), a relative of martyr Hoang Xuan Nghi (who died in 1966). **Photo: DL**

In the current context, as the country enters a new era, Uncle Ho's words remain a guiding principle: " Our people will forever remember the gratitude we owe to the martyrs, and we must always learn from their courageous spirit to overcome all difficulties and hardships, and complete the revolutionary cause that the martyrs have entrusted to us."

July 27th is not only a commemorative occasion, but also an opportunity for every Vietnamese person to reflect on their own hearts, to be grateful, to act, and to live up to the great sacrifices of generations of ancestors.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/tri-an-nguoi-co-cong-theo-loi-bac-dan-post561606.html