Vi Xuyen July, the season of appointment

I have been to Vi Xuyen (Ha Giang) during the "war anniversary" season in July many times, but the emotions are... never the same. When standing in the middle of the vast tombs of young soldiers or in the yard of the Memorial of the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the war to protect the northernmost borderland of the Fatherland, my heart still aches with compassion as if it were the first time...

Peak 468 - the resting place of immortal souls

This year, in July, Vi Xuyen had persistent and heavy rain. Despite the heavy rain and strong winds, comrades and relatives of the martyrs still spread out throughout the vast cemetery to visit their loved ones. The cemetery has just been given a “new look”! The renovation and upgrading project has been carried out since 2016. In July this year, to celebrate the 78th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day, Tuyen Quang province held a ceremony to announce the completion of the project. Vi Xuyen Martyrs Cemetery has been invested in and renovated in many areas.

Vi Xuyen National Martyrs Cemetery gets a "new look"

At this place, more than 40 years ago, despite the imbalance of forces, on July 12, 1984, our army carried out counterattacks, recapturing the heights 772, 1509, 468, 685 that the Chinese army had illegally occupied before. The national defense battle in Vi Xuyen that year had more than 4,000 officers and soldiers sacrificed. More than 1,700 martyrs were buried at Vi Xuyen Martyrs Cemetery, but nearly 2,000 martyrs could not be gathered at the cemetery for many reasons, the terrain was difficult and weapons on the old battlefield could not be completely dismantled.

Monument 468 at Vi Xuyen National Martyrs Cemetery

Since then, every July has been the “dating season” in Vi Xuyen. It is a meeting place for veterans, wounded soldiers, families of martyrs and even relatives of martyrs who have not been found, because they all share the same direction: The people who have sacrificed their lives for the Fatherland!

The day I arrived, a group of veterans of the 356th Division leaned against the 468 incense burner, whispering words of remembrance to their comrades who had fallen in the deep valley. After confiding in his old comrades, Sergeant Lang Van Thang, from Tam Dao, an artillery soldier of the 356th Division, turned to tell us about the tragic war of the past. "When he heard his comrades from the 685th peak (known as the lime kiln of the century) and the 772th peak calling back: "Fire artillery at the coordinates". But, those coordinates had our comrades. In the unequal battle, they chose the option of "dying for the Fatherland, living for the Fatherland".

Colonel Nguyen Lu, former Commander of the 3rd Sao Vang Division, looked at the towering white mountains after the rain, choking up as he told the story of that day: That year, the Vi Xuyen battlefield was fierce. He was ordered to bring a number of experienced officers and soldiers of the 3rd Sao Vang Division to support. And, when the 3rd Sao Vang Division was ordered to withdraw, "all of our troops went but none returned", many comrades had left their youth on this borderland. "Every year I come back here to visit my friends", the colonel's voice trembled.

Former President Truong Tan Sang and Secretary of Tuyen Quang Provincial Party Committee Hau A Lenh visited the martyrs' graves.

The answer echoes in the valley

Coming to Vi Xuyen during the "dating season", former President Truong Tan Sang, Secretary of Tuyen Quang Provincial Party Committee Hau A Lenh, Senior Lieutenant General Le Quang Minh, Deputy Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army, Major General Nguyen Hong Thai, Deputy Political Commissar of Military Region 2... went to each grave, poured glasses of wine, lit fragrant cigarettes... invited the martyrs to attend.

The rain was getting heavier, Major Nguyen Duc Thang, Chief of Thanh Thuy Commune Police, gave me a chair to sit on to avoid the rain. Major Thang said that the people of Ha Giang and the veterans were very moved when for many years, Mrs. Mai Thi Hanh, wife of former President Truong Tan Sang, and the volunteer group Chia Chia - Sharing carried out many practical programs for the disadvantaged people here. In particular, the act of transporting more than 600 veterans, wounded soldiers and families of martyrs to Vi Xuyen to attend the annual "war memorial" party was a truly heartwarming gesture.

Major Thang recounted the early days of building Incense Station 468. In 2015, a group of veterans repeatedly went up Nam Ngat Mountain (where Incense Station 468 is now), burned incense to “call friends”, and told “friends” what they wanted: to build a temple to provide a warm resting place for more than 4,000 souls of their comrades. The “answer” was sent by the wind echoing up from the deep valley.

Former President Truong Tan Sang visited Colonel Nguyen Lu, former Commander of the 3rd Sao Vang Division.

That year, President Truong Tan Sang received the veterans at the Presidential Palace and welcomed the idea of building a memorial temple for the heroic martyrs who “lived on the rocks, died on the rocks, and were immortal”. In March 2016, the temple at the former peak 468 was inaugurated. After that, several kind-hearted businesses joined hands with the locality to renovate and upgrade the incense altar 468 to its current form.

On the occasion of the 78th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day and the announcement ceremony of the completion of the renovation project of Vi Xuyen Martyrs Cemetery, 51 veterans in difficult circumstances were supported with 12 million VND/person, including a savings book of 10 million VND; 100 individuals who are meritorious people and policy families received gifts and cash (4 million VND/person).

PHAM THUC

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/vi-xuyen-thang-7-mua-hen-post805696.html