In national pride

In the mind of every Vietnamese, there is always a pride in the April 30 Victory, a glorious milestone in the history of building and defending the country of our people. This is a brilliant symbol of the Vietnamese revolutionary spirit, clearly demonstrating the bravery and intelligence of the Vietnamese people. For every Vietnamese person, April 30, 1975 has a great historical significance. The red flag with a yellow star fluttered on the roof of the Independence Palace. The Ho Chi Minh Campaign was completely victorious. For 50 years, the Vietnamese people have lived in peace and independence; Vietnam's history has entered a new page of the era of openness and international integration.

Our nation's history records countless victories in nation-building and national defense throughout the ages. History preserves epic tales of a country struggling amidst the flames of war, yet rising up in glory. Generation after generation, soldiers march to the battlefield, while wives and mothers at home diligently cultivate their crops with their sweat, providing not only food but also hope to the front lines. Each person embroiders on their chest the belief in a peaceful future. A wife bidding farewell to her husband embroiders a promise of waiting. Sons going to war, bidding farewell to their mothers, embroider filial piety into their hearts.

In the resounding and deeply moving flow of memories, the nation is always proud of the sacrifices of its people, of those who were ready to offer their sons and husbands to the Fatherland. Young men in their late teens and early twenties were ready to step forward, plunging into the rain of bombs and bullets to protect their beloved land. How can one describe the pain etched on their faces, thick as the tears that have been held back, in the hearts of these small women with immense patriotism? There are Heroic Vietnamese Mothers who sacrificed their husbands and then their three beloved children. Night after night, they still toss and turn, waiting, spending their lives sewing by the wall, while the flickering lamp still warms a land of sorrow. Please, mothers, rest assured, for that sacrifice was not in vain. That sacrifice will continue to be rekindled whenever the nation needs it, like the warm blood that flows in every citizen.

People of Saigon parade to celebrate the city's liberation (May 15, 1975). Archival photo.

The homeland has called the name of every Vietnamese child. My heart is filled with excitement and anticipation, recalling countless songs and melodies that have intertwined with history, with the ups and downs of the nation's historical flow. "I am hearing the homeland calling my name / With the sound of waves from Truong Sa and Hoang Sa crashing against the rocks / Waves surging up the shape of the country / One inch of sea cut off, a thousand inches of land in pain" (Nguyen Phan Que Mai).

Anyone who has ever been to sea, anyone who has ever visited Hoang Sa and Truong Sa... all feel the sacredness of peace . Our nation has united and joined hands to protect the Fatherland, and we will forever uphold that spirit, developing our strength to maintain the sovereignty of our homeland's seas and islands and the integrity of our territory, as the spirit of National Day is immortal.

The painful yet proud memories constantly remind young people of the immense sacrifices and bloodshed made by generations before them to achieve the peace we enjoy today. They have shaped the mountains, flowed peacefully along the rivers, and built warm, happy homes. Just recently, parents lost their children, wives and sons lost their breadwinners. These men died suddenly while on duty, leaving behind young children and wives who wept until their tears ran dry. This pain awakens millions of Vietnamese hearts, reminding each of us that we must never be complacent, never forget the contributions of those who daily serve on the borders, in the islands, or in other special missions. This pain also stirs and motivates young people to show gratitude to those who have contributed through concrete actions, working together to build a better future.

Yes, how can we forget those who sacrificed their youthful twenties to contribute to history, to the name of our nation? From the highlands to the lowlands, from the plains to the coast, everywhere there are shining examples of wounded soldiers, bravely fighting for their livelihoods and reviving their families' economies . But many veterans still live very simple, difficult lives, unable to rise above their hardships because the wounds on their chests ache and never fully heal.

I have returned to Dien Bien many times to revisit the historical sites of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, a battle that "shook the world and resonated across continents," to feel proud of my ancestors' tradition and culture of fighting foreign invaders, as well as the outstanding strategic brilliance of General Vo Nguyen Giap. I have also traveled the Tay Tien road described in Quang Dung's poem, to see that the real Tay Tien road was also "steep and winding," and to feel the desolate atmosphere of a difficult time that our ancestors endured. I have also visited the road used to transport rice from Thanh Hoa to Dien Bien Phu. Of course, it's not a complete picture, and some sections are broken, because the road today is different from the past, with villages springing up, but it still allows me to feel the atmosphere of a time when our army and people united in their efforts to reach the front lines, creating an indomitable force. They were once very young. With spirit and responsibility, they voluntarily transported food and ammunition from the rear to the front lines by human strength. They knew the path was incredibly difficult and fraught with danger, but they still pressed on, determined to achieve victory one day.

Proud and grateful. I love my homeland, my country, with its humble farmers who made history. I love and cherish the roads built with the blood and sweat of our people, which have now become roads for economic development and a prosperous life. Being in Muong Lat today, I suddenly feel as if tens of thousands of people are marching into battle, carrying with them an indomitable spirit, heading towards Dien Bien Phu like a festival procession.

Time passed and the country grew. Those who inherited these values ​​actively spread them, building programs of gratitude, establishing charitable funds, and constructing cultural centers on remote islands... Generations of young people have returned to light incense for the martyrs of the Gac Ma naval battle, sharing the pain and loss of their families. Tears of youth shed for those men who fell before they had loved ones. We vow to ourselves, we will be the ones to uphold our homeland.

Nguyen Van Hoc

Source: https://baohanam.com.vn/xa-hoi/-trong-long-tu-hao-dan-toc-160451.html