Full gratitude

Hear from the insider

Born and raised in a family with a rich revolutionary tradition, more than anyone else, Ms. Truong Thi My Hanh - Head of the Southern Representative Office - Vietnam Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs (Office), understands very well the loss, pain of war and the mental damage of those left behind.

At the discussion, she shared many touching stories about her family and the meaningful work that the Office is doing.

Through the discussion, help today's generation appreciate the past, be grateful for the present and create a better future.

Ms. Hanh said: “During the two resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism, the Truong family had 31 people recognized as martyrs, 9 Vietnamese Heroic Mothers. The previous generation sacrificed, the next generation continued to leave their families to join the resistance war for independence and freedom for their homeland and people. Only those involved can fully understand the pain of the family. Therefore, I always devote all my heart to activities to support the families of martyrs.”

Over the years, the Office has supported about 50,000 cases of searching and repatriating martyrs' remains to cemeteries or returning them to their hometowns; built and donated 1,300 gratitude houses; conducted DNA tests for 1,000 martyrs and their relatives, of which 500 cases were accurate; awarded savings books and gifts to policy families, Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, etc. The total cost of the activities is nearly 180 billion VND from socialized sources.

As one of many families supported to exhume the remains of martyrs and bring them back to their hometown for burial, Mr. Nguyen Van Binh (from Ha Tinh ) called the program to interact and share his joy.

He said: “My brother is martyr Nguyen Tien Binh, who died in 1978 during the war to protect the southwestern border. Many times I intended to bring him back to his hometown to rest, but my family's conditions did not allow it. Luckily, the family received financial support from the Office and procedures to exhume and bring him back to his hometown. Now my feelings are hard to describe, I can only thank the Office and Ms. Truong Thi My Hanh.”

Forever the flame of gratitude

The sharing of Mrs. Truong Thi My Hanh and Mr. Nguyen Van Binh at the discussion helped today’s generation deeply feel some of the pain and loss of the families. This further affirms:

The war is over, the physical wounds have healed over the years, but the mental and emotional wounds of those who remained still remain. To partially compensate for this loss and sacrifice, the Party, the State and the People always carry out the tradition of "When drinking water, remember its source" and "Repaying gratitude".

Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs Dang Ngoc Tao shared: “Showing gratitude to families of policy beneficiaries and people with meritorious services is not only a responsibility but also a command from the heart. In recent times, the province has had many practical activities to take care of the material and spiritual needs of families of policy beneficiaries and people with meritorious services such as: building and repairing gratitude houses; visiting and giving gifts on holidays and Tet; journey to search for and collect martyrs' remains in Cambodia, etc. In 2024 alone, Long An province (old) launched a savings movement, mobilizing socialized resources and contributions from officials, civil servants, public employees and workers to support the construction and repair of 272 gratitude houses with a total amount of more than 15 billion VND. In addition, implementing Decision No. 21/2024/QD-TTg dated November 22, 2024 of the Prime Minister on supporting the construction of new or renovation and repair of houses for people with meritorious services to the revolution, relatives of the revolutionary martyrs, etc. In honor of martyrs, Long An has built and repaired 241 gratitude houses with a total amount of more than 25 billion VND.

Showing gratitude means a constant activity, without an end point. Today’s young generation will continue and promote the tradition of “When drinking water, remember its source” with more practical and meaningful activities.

At the seminar, Secretary of the Provincial Youth Union Tran Hai Phu shared about many practical activities and sentiments of today's generation towards heroes, martyrs, families with meritorious services to the revolution: "On the occasion of the 78th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27, 1947 - July 27, 2025), the Youth Union at all levels has deployed more than 800 visits to Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, war invalids, sick soldiers, and families with meritorious services. In particular, Tay Ninh youth organized 102 reunion meals at families with meritorious services, creating a warm and cohesive atmosphere; organized more than 110 medical examination activities, giving free medicine to 900 people with meritorious services, families with meritorious services, etc. These meaningful works and tasks have contributed to fostering, nurturing, and fostering love for the homeland and country, national pride, and the responsibility of young people in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland".

Many children of Tay Ninh homeland, together with the whole country, wrote golden pages of history of the nation in the cause of fighting to protect the Fatherland. Since then, Tay Ninh has been a land that has suffered many losses and sacrifices.

With the philosophy of "When drinking water, remember its source", doing a good job of "Repaying gratitude" is the way today's generation shows gratitude in the most complete and meaningful way./.

Le Ngoc

Source: https://baolongan.vn/ven-nghia-tri-an-a199609.html