The wind... welcomes comrades
Before March 14, we had the opportunity to talk with Mr. Nguyen Van Dung - one of the 4 soldiers of the HQ604 ship that survived the CQ88 campaign. Taking us to Vinh Hoa coast, looking at the vibrant city of Nha Trang, Mr. Nguyen Van Dung pointed to the homemade boat with a large sign writing "life is grateful to the heroic martyrs": "That is the wind grave of my comrades, the soldiers who go to sea determine that they will not have bodies to sacrifice, return only the wind grave".
Recalling the 37-year war, in the soldier's memory, that year's information, no matter how strong they were, could not stop the choking tears. Mr. Dung said that in February 1987, he enlisted in the army, and exactly 1 year after his leave, he was assigned to board a ship to Truong Sa to build an island. Before March 14, on the HQ604 ship, there were 2 people on duty to inform, Mr. Dung and martyr Phan Tan Du (from Phu Yen). At that time, due to health reasons, Mr. Du took Mr. Dung to Gac Ma Island to do the mission.
"I have to live for the part of my teammates I have given - that is the will for me to overcome every day until today" - Mr. Dung shared.
There is a monument
Veteran Nguyen Van Dung confided: "We are joking, it has only been 30 years since there was a monument. That is the monument at the Gac Ma Soldier Memorial Site. It is extremely meaningful, not only to us soldiers but also to many relatives of heroic families and martyrs who fell for Truong Sa.
In 2015, a campaign to build a gac Ma monument was launched by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor. And Khanh Hoa - Cam Ranh peninsula is where the soldiers set foot on the boat to protect their homeland and will also be the place to welcome them back.
For us, every soldier is a soldier, every sacrifice is painful and not only 64 comrades but also many of our comrades have sacrificed in Truong Sa - Mr. Dung shared.
Returning from Truong Sa, Mr. Dung was determined to retake the course and become a businessman. Over the years, he has been tirelessly "grateful to his teammates". Every year, he spends his time organizing meetings and visiting relatives of teammates in Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen on the occasion of March 14 and July 27, Tet. With the "back to life" soldier, he always kept in mind "not to miss the sacrifices that his comrades have entrusted and entrusted, that is, family, children, mothers... of comrades who need help when away from comrades".
As for veteran Le Van Thoa - one of the 9 survivors returning from the battle of Guam Ma over the past 7 years, every March 14 he drives a motorbike to the Guam Ma Soldiers Memorial Site to burn incense in memory of his comrades.
"I will still return here on March 14, to offer incense to my comrades and also to pass on to my children and grandchildren the noble sacrifice of the soldiers. Today's peace, my child must cherish" - veteran Le Van Thoa expressed.
Expectations to connect on the "Journey of Aspiration"
On March 14 this year, it is 10 years since the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor laid the first stone to build the Gac Ma Soldiers Memorial Area, located on Cam Ranh peninsula, in Cam Hai Dong commune, Cam Lam district, Khanh Hoa province.
"Aspiration Journey" is the idea of organizing the overall space of the memorial area. There is the Monument to the fallen soldiers ofac Ma, with a square of 1,648m2, a 12m high monument cluster, with the theme "People lying on the horizon", inspired by the image of 64 soldiers holding hands determined to protect the national flag to affirm Vietnam's sovereignty over the island of Acma on March 14, 1988".
In particular, the exhibition room is built underground, inspired by the "immortal circle", located in the center of the land. The total exhibition area includes 830m, including 26 valuable artifacts donated by the martyrs' families, which are historical proof passed down through generations.
According to the Memorial Management Board, since the inauguration of phase 1, more than 582,230 visitors have been welcomed, with more than 2,710 groups. In particular, many traditional educational activities were organized such as: Admitting 102 new Party members, admitting 158 youth union members, honoring and rewarding 132 cadres, union members, students...
From 2023, Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee will receive the implementation of phase 2, building the special park of the fallen soldiers of the family on an area of over 2 hectares remaining towards the sea. Up to now, the design idea has been chosen for the Truong Sa Museum project. This will be a modern and unique project, the first museum on seas, islands and island sovereignty in Vietnam.
