Gac Ma - a monument that enriches patriotism
After a period of preparation, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor (VGCL) decided to build a memorial area for the Gu Ma soldiers, according to the wishes of the relatives of the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives on the Gu Ma island, union members, fishermen, veterans, Navy soldiers, and patriotic Vietnamese people on the coast of Cam Ranh, Khanh Hoa province. From there, this place became a sacred space for families, relatives, and people nationwide to visit and commemorate the soldiers who sacrificed for the cause of protecting the sea, islands, and continental shelf of the Fatherland.
The Golden Heart Social and Cultural Fund is an organization assigned the responsibility of standing in the center and receiving the hearts of union members, workers, people, and overseas Vietnamese. Since the exchange in Da Nang in 2014, the leaders of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and the Golden Heart Social and Cultural Fund have launched the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa Nghia Tinh program. And in 2015, there was a message campaign " Contributing a brick to build the accused soldiers' memorial site" through the National Humanitarian Information Portal 1500... The whole country, from students to the elderly, to each veteran, each overseas Vietnamese, donated a part of the fund to the Fund to support the program.
Former Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, Mr. Tran Thanh Hai once shared: I will never forget the first phase, when the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor organized, Lao Dong Newspaper was the unit directly implementing the mobilization from the people, overseas Vietnamese, cadres, workers, and civil servants nationwide to support through the Golden Heart Social Charity Fund from the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa charity program. From this program, we have the same Gar Ma Soldier Memorial Area as today".
On July 15, 2017, the first phase of the Gac Ma Soldier Memorial Site was officially inaugurated. For the first time, relatives of 64 martyrs were present to welcome them home. It was an unforgettable journey when each cadre and reporter of the Golden Heart Social Support Fund raced with time so that mothers who have been worried for many years could see with their own hands and eyes the place to welcome their children. The Monument to foster patriotism The special mark of the project is a testament to the respect and gratitude of the Navy Heroes and Martyrs, contributing to educating and fostering patriotism, the indomitable and indomitable will of the Vietnamese people in the cause of protecting the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland.
Professional Major Tran Thi Thuy, working at Brigade 146, Naval Region 4 - the only daughter of Hero and martyr Tran Van Phuong, is proud to be one of the few relatives of the family of 64 martyrs of Gaz Ma who witnessed the shape of the memorial area from its formation until now. She said: "I hope that in the coming time, the Fund will develop further, have more programs with humanitarian significance, ignite patriotism, and be proud of national history".
The memorial area for the Gaz Ma Soldier today has become an eternal project with a historical flow. Not only a destination to educate patriotism of the people of the whole country, this place is becoming a "Miniature Bridge on the Islet" - the first destination for each working group before boarding the ship to visit Truong Sa Special Zone.
Continuing the song "Dong Loc Intersection"
Dong Loc Intersection (Ha Tinh) is not only a "fire-up square" in the resistance war against the US, a place marking the heroic sacrifice of 10 young volunteer women, but also a special national monument, a symbol of courage, gratitude and aspiration for peace. The candle of gratitude and the sound of the Dong Loc bell still ring far away, reminding us to live worthy of the blood and bones of our ancestors.
On July 24, 1968, 10 female conscriptors of the 4th Battalion, Company 552 led by Vo Thi Tan heroically sacrificed their lives. The image of girls aged eighte and twenty, with bright faces and a brave spirit, became a shining symbol of revolutionary heroism.
Mr. Dang Quoc Vu - Director of the Management Board of Dong Loc Intersection Relic Site - affirmed: "Each project, each memorial activity in Dong Loc is not only a gratitude but also a message to today's generation: Be grateful and live more responsibly with the country. Dong Loc intersection is the "red address" to arouse pride, citizen awareness and responsibility to build a homeland".
Mr. Tran The Dung - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Ha Tinh Provincial Party Committee - said: "Ha Tinh youth always consider Dong Loc Intersection as a symbol for scanning. From here, generations of young people have fostered their will, committed themselves to difficult tasks, and made important contributions to the cause of building the homeland and defending the Fatherland. That is how they wrote the follow-up to the heroic song Dong Loc with today's and future achievements".
In the complex of works of the Dong Loc Intersection Relic Site, the Dong Loc bell tower is an architecture that leaves a deep impression on everyone who has the opportunity to visit.
The Management Board of the Dong Loc Intersection Special National Relic Site - said: "The initiative and investment contribution to the construction of Dong Loc bell tower belongs to Ha Tinh province, Lao Dong Newspaper through the Golden Heart Social and Cultural Fund, Dau Tu Newspaper, National Administrative Academy... In addition, there are donations from all over the country.
The project broke ground on July 14, 2007, started construction on March 26, 2009 and was inaugurated on January 2, 2011.
The main item is the 37m high bell tower including 7 floors and 1 attic with a large bronze bell weighing nearly 6 tons, 3.7m high, 1.95m in diameter, made by artist Nguyen Van Ung (Hoa Mai - Ngu Xa Bronze casting facility, Hanoi) for 11 months.
The image of the majestic bell tower with a traditional architectural plan of the rectory rising up evokes a solemn and sacred impression, which is the highlight of the relic site.
Former Vice Chairman of Ha Tinh Province Le Ngoc Chau assessed: "In recent years, the People's Committee of Ha Tinh Province has highly appreciated and respectfully thanked the companionship, help, consensus as well as support of Lao Dong Newspaper and the Golden Heart Social and Cultural Fund for sponsoring the construction of the Dong Loc Intersection bell tower".
