Life is a journey and a discovery , an experience with the eyes and ears. There are trips that are just trips. There are trips that are forever memories, engraved and anchored with unforgettable marks in the life of each person. The journey to visit Truong Sa Island and DK1/7 Platform of our delegation No. 22 is one such trip.

Working group No. 22 at the sovereignty marker of Truong Sa island.

Each island we visited had unforgettable images of young soldiers, simple and honest but strong and resilient in the midst of storms. They were honored to carry on their shoulders a noble mission, a sacred duty for the Fatherland.

From Da Thi, Sinh Ton, Co Lin, Len Dao to Truong Sa island, Da Dong C, DK1/7 platform, all delegates of the working group shared the same excitement, eagerness, and joy.

The image that impressed us the most and made us proudest was when we saw the national flag flying on ships, boats, on the highest positions of the island and DK1/7 Platform. Wherever we saw the red flag with yellow star flying, that was the Fatherland. There, young men in their eighteens and twenties had skin tanned by the sun and wind, but were strong and resilient.

Each island is like a solid fortress in the middle of the ocean, a support and a solid belief for fishing boats far from shore when encountering storms and dangers. At the moment of commemorating the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the sovereignty of the sea and islands, we bow our heads, remember and thank them for sacrificing themselves for the Fatherland.

The author of the article offers incense to commemorate the heroic martyrs.

On Truong Sa Island, we were moved to attend the flag-raising ceremony and listen to the 10 oaths of the Vietnam People's Army. Proud and sacred. Remembering Truong Sa means remembering the vastness of the Phong Ba, Tra, and Banyan trees with big trunks, thick branches, lush green foliage, providing shade, dispelling the harsh weather in the middle of the ocean.

In Truong Sa, the leaves of the square-leafed banyan tree have become a “specialty” from the creativity of the island soldiers every time Tet comes and Spring comes. When wrapping banh chung for Tet, the island soldiers use square-leafed banyan leaves to replace dong leaves on the mainland. Truong Sa banh chung has both traditional flavor and the salty flavor of the island. People say that the square-leafed banh chung tree of Truong Sa is always strong and proud like the soldiers of Truong Sa island, becoming a symbol of the strong vitality of the Navy soldiers at the forefront of the wind and waves.

Remembering Truong Sa means remembering the teachers from Khanh Hoa who volunteered to go to Truong Sa to "sow letters" to children at Sinh Ton Primary School and Truong Sa.

In the wind, the waves, the saltiness of the sea on the remote islands, there are still small pagodas shaded by many tra, phong ba, and banyan trees - becoming special spaces for people on the islands to entrust their faith in national peace and prosperity. The pagodas here are not simply places to express religious beliefs, but become spiritual milestones, affirming the sacred and inviolable sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland Vietnam. The pagodas in the Truong Sa archipelago have become the embodiment of the spiritual values ​​that the Vietnamese people have joined hands to build and preserve in the middle of the ocean.

The national flag was a gift for the delegates with the signatures of officers and soldiers of DK1/7 Platform.

Missing Truong Sa is missing the white-capped waves, the hot, sweltering sunny days, occasionally interspersed with sudden rains. Missing the love of the land and the people. Leaving Truong Sa to return to the place of origin, to return to daily work. From now on, in my heart there will be another memory - beloved Truong Sa.

In the hands and luggage of many delegations when they arrived on the mainland, there were objects like souvenirs that everyone wanted and had. Gifts from Truong Sa, gifts from soldiers on distant islands. These were some national flags that had been hung on the islands with the signatures of the Island Chief, Political Commissar, and Head of the delegation. These were some snails, corals, and stones that the island soldiers gave them. These were small square-shaped banyan trees that the island soldiers had nurtured and the fruit of the square-shaped banyan tree that could be brought back to be cast into trees.

People can hide their love but cannot suppress their emotions. Unlike love between couples, the nostalgia for Truong Sa for those who are lucky enough to set foot on the remote island is very deep and has a strong, lasting influence. So, no matter where we are, what we do, each of us resonates with the same emotions, all turn towards the sacred land that our ancestors have contributed to exploring, establishing sovereignty and protecting sovereignty, the floating islands, rocky islands, submerged islands - the sacred land at the forefront of the wind and waves, with sincere feelings, with beautiful and simple memories.

Truong Sa is always a memorable place in every Vietnamese heart. And those who have been lucky enough to visit Truong Sa, let's become active and effective propagandists about the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands, about the spirit and action of "All for the homeland's sea and islands, for the Fatherland's borders", "Islands are home, the sea is homeland", "Truong Sa for the Fatherland, the Fatherland for Truong Sa".

I will never forget the image of the officers and soldiers lining up neatly, raising their hands to salute the ship 561 slowly leaving Cat Lai port, cutting through the waves to go out to sea. I will also never forget the image of the officers and soldiers of DK1/7 Platform standing on the Platform, saluting the working group with the lingering, lingering eyes of those who stay and those who leave, between the army and the people, between the islands and the mainland, for the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Truong Sa is far away, but very close in the heart. Because the people always love and sympathize, share with the difficulties, shortages and even the disadvantages of the soldiers on the remote islands. Working groups from the mainland still go to Truong Sa. Ships still carry food, necessities, fresh water, and love from the mainland to the islands. The intimate and warm cultural exchange nights almost do not want to end between the delegation representatives and the officers and soldiers of the navy on ship 561. Every time the working group enters the island or goes to the rig, there are performances by the artists and delegates of the working group singing for, singing together and dancing with the soldiers on the island. "Truong Sa is so close", "Truong Sa is anxious", "Truong Sa rain", "Far away island", "The Fatherland calls my name", "That soldier"... are continuously sung from the floating island to the submerged island, from the submerged island to the rig.

Any space can become a stage, anyone can become a singer on a remote island with the island soldiers. A guitar can also replace an entire orchestra of instruments and musicians. The emotions welling up deep inside those who are about to leave the mainland to go to Truong Sa, and the emotions of the island soldiers seeing us off from Truong Sa to the mainland are always lingering and lingering. We exchanged affectionate glances, tight handshakes, warm hugs... A journey to a remote island is to see, hear, and witness very real stories, very real stories, very human stories with the island soldiers and islanders, to deeply feel the meaning of the two words "compatriots", the love of the two words "military - people".

Passing through the seas and islands of our homeland, we truly understand the immortal epic of the history of building and defending the country, of what is sovereignty and protecting the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland. The new rhythm of life of Truong Sa is changing day by day. The attention of the Party and State on the strategy of developing the marine economy and ensuring national defense and security for the sea and islands, the companionship and sharing of the people of the whole country, has made Truong Sa very far away but not far away. Because, in that sea and island of our homeland, the seeds of life and life still flow strongly. The loyal island soldiers are always steadfast in the face of all storms, firmly holding their guns to preserve the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland.

The feelings when leaving Truong Sa are always endless, all words are powerless when talking about our feelings and hearts for Truong Sa. I would like to copy the poem of comrade Doan Chi Hai, Deputy Secretary of Soc Trang Provincial Youth Union, member of our Working Group No. 22 and see this poem he hastily wrote when ship 561 was preparing to leave Cat Lai port for Truong Sa instead of the conclusion of these few emotional lines.

A sentiment that speaks for many people's sentiments about beloved Truong Sa: "We go toward the vast waves / Where the country is steadfast for thousands of miles / Truong Sa, the flag is always indomitable / That platform, the rampart in the middle of the ocean / The Fatherland calls, my heart does not hesitate / Despite the storm, I still walk straight on the road / The sea wind is salty like the people's heart / This bitter salt forges a steadfast will / There are nights in the stormy sky / Eyes follow every breath of the homeland / You stand there, your heart is like a milestone / Firm feet, burning with heroic spirit / We go there not only to bring gifts / But also to bring the sacred spirit of the motherland / The words of the mountains, the murmur of the wind / Following me with the peaceful waves / Tomorrow, when I return to the island / I will find myself small in the vastness / But in my chest, this heart is pounding / Together with the earth and sky, forever calling out the name of Truong Sa"...

TRAN TRUNG HIEU

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/phong-su/truong-sa-xa-that-nhung-gan-trong-tim-830591