Amidst the harsh sunshine of the early summer days, the image of an old man with gray hair and the figure of a small man diligently patching potholes on the rural roads of Can Tho City has become familiar to the people. That is Mr. Le Van Son (77 years old, Dong Binh commune, Thoi Lai district, Can Tho city), a person who is always concerned about the safety of road users.
Under the shining sun and sweat, Mr. Son still diligently collects shovels of soil, rocks, cement... to fill the "traps" on the road. With the aircraft in hand, he meticulously leveled each patch, ensuring the road surface was smooth.
Sharing about his special work, Mr. Son smiled gently: "Seeing people traveling safely on the roads I have repaired, I am very happy. Doing this job is also a way for me to stay healthy, live happily, and live well in my old age. My children also supported and contributed money to me to do it.
It is known that Mr. Son's family has 10 children (5 boys, 5 girls), a stable life thanks to 5 hectares of rice fields. After the children got married and his wife passed away from a serious illness, Mr. Son decided to spend his remaining time doing useful things for the community.
In 2014, Mr. Son began a volunteer road patch journey. At first, he carried sacks of rocks to repair the roads near his house. Over time, many people became aware of him and contributed money to buy materials with him. In particular, local construction materials store owners also reduce prices or do not take money. Thanks to the cooperation of the community, Mr. Son's road patching work has spread more and more.
"Thanks to the help of neighbors and store owners, I can't worry about running out of sand, stone, and cement. Passersby see me exposed to the sun and bring water and underwear to use, I feel very warm, Mr. Son emotionally shared.
On an old motorbike, Mr. Son still patches potholes on many roads in his hometown every day. That silent work has lasted for more than 10 years, becoming an indispensable part of the lives of the people here.
Looking back at the section that he had patched, Mr. Son proudly said: "The sections of Bon Tong - Mot Ngan road (now Provincial Road 919) were previously muddy and difficult to travel, now they have been patched up, making it less arduous and arduous for people to travel, especially during the rainy season".
According to Mr. Vo Duy Quoc - Vice Chairman of the People's Council of Dong Binh Commune (Thoi Lai District, Can Tho City), in recent years, Mr. Son has made many contributions to ensuring traffic safety in the area and has been awarded many certificates of merit by the locality. Mr. Son's work is a shining example of the community, beautifying the human values in life.
