A Thousand Candles of Gratitude
The program began with a solemn ceremony, "The Bell of Remembrance, the Lighting of Candles of Gratitude." Leaders and former leaders of the Party and State, as well as leaders of ministries, departments, and localities, performed the ritual of lighting candles in gratitude to the heroic martyrs at Hang Duong Cemetery and A1 Martyrs' Cemetery.
At Hang Duong Cemetery, Party, State, and local leaders, along with 150 youth union members, lit more than 3,000 candles on each grave to commemorate the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland. More than 3,000 flickering candles illuminated the graves of the heroic martyrs, revolutionary soldiers, and patriotic citizens in sections A, B, C, and D of Hang Duong Cemetery, expressing boundless gratitude for the courageous sacrifices of previous generations.
In Dien Bien, hundreds of flickering candles were lit by the younger generation as a profound expression of gratitude. This also served as a reminder for the youth to cherish the value of independence and freedom, strengthening their resolve to uphold and promote the nation's revolutionary traditions, and striving to build a more civilized, prosperous, and beautiful country. Pham Thi Bich Ngan, a student from Thanh Nua High School in Dien Bien district, shared: “I feel very honored and proud to participate in this program. It's not only magnificent in its organization but also carries great significance, highlighting the sacrifices of heroes and martyrs for the Fatherland. This is also an opportunity for us young people to gain a deeper understanding, and from there, strive to study hard to build the country and repay the debt of gratitude to the heroes and martyrs.”
In his opening remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha emphasized: Although the war is long over, nearly 200,000 martyrs still lie buried on the former battlefields, and nearly 300,000 martyrs' graves remain unidentified; millions of wounded and sick soldiers have lost a part of their flesh, health, and youth. Hang Duong Cemetery and A1 Martyrs' Cemetery are two of thousands of "red addresses" symbolizing revolutionary heroism, patriotism, and the sacrifices of previous generations.
“From the summit of Hill A1 to Con Dao – the sacred altar of the Fatherland, let us light candles and incense to remember and express our gratitude to the millions of heroes, martyrs, and patriotic compatriots who sacrificed themselves for the glorious revolutionary cause. Vietnamese history and the nation will forever remember and be proud of the indomitable will of our ancestors and their immortal epics in regaining peace, independence, freedom, prosperity, and happiness for our nation, our land, our country.”
The epic song will resound forever.
Following the moving candle-lighting ceremony, the "Immortal Epic" art program continued, presenting the audience with colorful performances that expressed gratitude and remembrance for the heroic martyrs, cherished the value of independence and freedom, and aspired towards the future. The artistic performance was structured into three chapters, titled: "Vietnam: Blood and Flowers," "Immortal Flowers," and "Song of Peace ." What was special was that the program took place simultaneously in Dien Bien and Con Dao, with interwoven and interconnected performances that flowed seamlessly, as if telling a sacred and moving story to both live and television viewers.
If in the red soil region, the story of the girl and the sapodilla flower has become a legend, then in the Northwest, the color of the bauhinia flower and the golden ripe rice fields evoke memories of a victory that "shook the world" 69 years ago, a victory that was "renowned throughout the world and shook the earth," and to achieve that victory, countless soldiers, volunteer youth, and civilian workers laid down their lives here. And right beside the grave of Heroic Martyr Be Van Dan at the A1 Martyrs' Cemetery, his former comrades stood silently to listen to the song "Be Van Dan Lives On." The melody and lyrics of the song, combined with the incense smoke and the flickering candlelight on the grave of the national hero, brought many emotions to the audience...
The performances also reminded the audience that Motherland Vietnam was stained with the blood of its outstanding sons and daughters, ready to volunteer and fight to the last breath to achieve peace, independence, and freedom. These images were presented through the stories of Dien Bien Phu soldiers and former Con Dao prisoners from two different locations. Many viewers had already learned, heard, and researched these stories through history books. But today, they were presented authentically through "living witnesses" and their memories of a glorious era… Once again, the audience couldn't hide their feelings of pride and emotion at the sacrifices of the heroic martyrs, wounded soldiers, and sick soldiers, and felt even more grateful and appreciative of the value of independence and freedom today…
There were many other memorable performances, such as the string ensemble piece "Returning to the Homeland" performed by students from the Vietnam National Academy of Music. Or, at the end of the program, veterans at the Dien Bien Phu location sang a medley of "Uncle Ho is Marching with Us" and "Marching Under the Military Banner" together with artists and performers from both locations...
It must be affirmed that the art program "The Immortal Epic," held for the first time in Dien Bien, is one of the meaningful activities commemorating the 76th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs' Day, aiming to express gratitude for the immense contributions of previous generations. And the echoes of "The Immortal Epic" about the heroes of Vietnam will continue to resonate, further motivating today's young generation to build their homeland and country with pride in the past and a forward-looking spirit...
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