My work diary still bears an unforgettable mark. At exactly 8:30 a.m. on November 24, 1989, the sacred land beside the Thach Han River witnessed a solemn ceremony celebrating the founding of Quang Tri town. In the moving and profound quick report, "A New Journey Creates Momentum from 200 Years of History," published in Quang Tri newspaper issue 21, my two colleagues, journalists Nguyen Hoan and Huu Thanh, predicted: "From here, the story of the phoenix's rebirth from the ashes of sorrow and suffering will surely not be just a legend. The historical baggage of nearly 200 years, especially the treasure received from the 81 days and nights of the fiery 1972, the town solemnly carries with it on its new journey..."
Thirty-five years have passed in the blink of an eye. A long period, yet a significant one, but one that can be seen as a positive and decisive start to a long and profound "new journey" with the ultimate goal of achieving a "more decent and beautiful future" that constantly resonates in the hearts of every citizen of Quang Tri town. Looking back now, from a land where "medals were scarce, not even enough bricks" (as in Tran Bach Dang's poem), the town has learned to draw upon its historical depth, maximizing the steadfast and indomitable traditions of the sacred land of the Ancient Citadel during the resistance against foreign invaders, to rise above challenges in building a new life with proud achievements...
Bell tower of the Ancient Citadel - Photo: D.TT
But in the future, even if the town becomes a hundred times richer and happier than it is today, deep within the Ancient Citadel, alongside the new life, the echoes from the past will remain, radiant and immortal, as glittering legends of patriotism, self-sacrifice, and the yearning for peace .
During a conversation with veterans revisiting the old battlefield of Quang Tri Citadel, one observation truly moved and haunted me: that every year during the July commemoration, in Quang Tri province in general, and Quang Tri town in particular, anyone who returns to this land feels as if the war only ended yesterday.
Everyone held in their hands incense sticks offered to the heroic martyrs, their hearts heavy with gratitude, sorrow, and pride; they released a flower in remembrance onto the sacred Thach Han River, the flower lingering at the bank, as if clinging endlessly to the person offering it before merging into the ceaseless current flowing downstream.
In particular, among the tourists visiting Quang Tri town, many seek out and inquire with locals and veterans of the Ancient Citadel battles about the battles in which their children participated. Those who find the resting place of their fallen soldiers are filled with joy and happiness, even though the reunion is always painful due to the separation of life and death. Those who have not yet found the remains or graves of their fallen soldiers still hold onto hope.
Besides the relatives who have found the graves of fallen soldiers and organize annual visits, the wish of the relatives of fallen soldiers is that if they have any information, however little or vague, they are willing to go anywhere in Quang Tri province, regardless of the distance, to find out and satisfy their longing... And so, streams of people carrying their waiting and hope... continue to return to this land.
Quang Tri town is also unique in the country because, within the grounds of almost every family, in addition to the ancestral altar, people also erect a shrine to honor the souls of fallen heroes. This beautiful custom stems from a touching fact at the Ancient Citadel: when construction projects begin, people always find the remains of fallen soldiers.
Even when expanding houses, building schools, stadiums, or digging holes for planting trees, people consciously prepare additional offerings so that if they are lucky enough to "find" the remains of a fallen soldier, they can proactively bury them, hold a memorial service, and bring them to the martyrs' cemetery in a thoughtful and solemn manner.
Without anyone telling them to, in the highest point of their compound, the people of Thanh Co respectfully erected a small shrine so that on the 15th and 1st days of the lunar month, on holidays and festivals, they would have a place to offer incense and prayers to the heroic martyrs.
Flower-releasing dock on the southern bank of the Thach Han River - Photo: D.TT
The banks of the Thach Han River have long been a sacred space of remembrance, spirituality, and gratitude. This explains why acts of gratitude towards the heroic martyrs that take place on these riverbanks often have a powerful impact, due to the voluntary and active participation of all sectors of the population.
From a veteran's act of releasing flowers on the river to commemorate fallen comrades, to the current practice of releasing flowers on the river during important national holidays, this has become a touching tradition. It can be seen as a vibrant message of gratitude to the heroic martyrs, and it will surely be preserved and passed down through many generations of people in Quang Tri.
From the tradition of releasing flowers on the Thach Han River, in recent years, thanks to the active attention of the local government and the joint support of entrepreneurs and businesses, the flower-releasing docks on both banks of this river have been built on a grand scale, creating a solemn focal point in the middle of the river flowing through the town, looking downstream from the Ga Bridge.
From the flower-releasing dock on the southern bank, there is a seamless connection between the space and other architectural structures such as the square and bell tower, followed by the Ancient Citadel system. Within the Ancient Citadel, many symbolic and educational structures have been upgraded and built, such as monuments, ceremonial areas, and museums. This seamless connection is considered quite logical, creating a positive impression on tourists visiting Quang Tri town.
In particular, this is also an ideal space for organizing cultural activities that attract a large number of people from all walks of life. It is convenient for recording and broadcasting television programs and grand epic art programs because the lighting is easy to arrange, and the layer of natural light from the riverbank to the Ancient Citadel is very thick and deep, creating a unique multi-layered lighting effect that television directors and photographers working here are very pleased with.
The Bodhi School historical site is always deeply ingrained in the hearts and minds of the people of Quang Tri town - Photo: HNK
Along with the "Lantern Festival" on the Thach Han River, the shrines dedicated to the heroic martyrs of the ancient citadel are highlights that always move the hearts of visitors to this heroic land.
In the future, Quang Tri Ancient Citadel will no longer be likened to "a beautiful poem," but rather to a magnificent symphony, rising from the resonant melody of a song of construction. Throughout this development process, this land will undoubtedly be supported by the depths of the earth and the spiritual depth of the land, a place where the blood and bones of tens of thousands of martyrs from all over the country once rest.
Dao Tam Thanh's memoir
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