On the evening of April 28, at the Hoa Tien Cave Relic Site (Hoang Mai ward), the People's Committee of Nghe An province organized a ceremony to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the sacrifice of 33 volunteer youth martyrs (TNXP) (April 28, 1966 - April 28, 2026), expressing gratitude for the noble contributions and sacrifices of the previous generation for the cause of national liberation.
Attending the ceremony were Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha, General Director of Vietnam Railways Corporation Hoang Gia Khanh, Deputy Director of the Department of People with Meritorious Services Vu Ngoc Thuy, Deputy Head of the Political Department of Military Region 4 - Colonel Nguyen Tien Dung. On the side of Nghe An province were Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vo Trong Hai; Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Duong Dinh Chinh; Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Thai Van Thanh and representatives of departments, agencies, and sectors.
In particular, the ceremony was attended by former youth volunteers of unit C271 - historical witnesses of the event on April 28, 1966, along with relatives of martyrs' families and representatives of youth volunteer forces, railway workers who lived and fought in Hoang Mai.
In a solemn and emotional atmosphere, the anniversary ceremony was held right on the land that once marked the fierce years of war. Six decades have passed, but the memory of April 28, 1966 - the moment 33 youth volunteers sacrificed while clinging to the road, clinging to the bridge, keeping the vital traffic artery - is still intact in the hearts of many generations. Their sacrifices have become an immortal symbol of courage and steadfast will: "Living by the bridge, clinging to the road, dying still steadfast, indomitable".
In 2011, the Hoa Tien Cave and Railway Martyrs' Cemetery Complex was ranked as a National Historical Relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, including three categories: Hoa Tien Cave, Railway Martyrs' Cemetery and Memorial House - the place of sacrifice, rest and worship of 33 martyrs.
Speaking at the ceremony, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Thai Van Thanh recalled the heroic struggle tradition of the nation, affirming the special role of Hoang Mai land in the anti-American resistance war. This is a strategic area, where youth volunteer forces are steadfastly stationed, ensuring smooth traffic to support the southern battlefield.
Comrade Thai Van Thanh emphasized: "60 years have passed, Hoa Tien Cave and the sacrifices of the brothers and sisters have become typical images of the generation of youth volunteers ready to sacrifice their youth for the Fatherland, with the determination to'live by bridges and roads, die bravely and courageously','roads not cleared do not spare blood and bones'". At the same time, provincial leaders affirmed that Nghe An will continue to promote the tradition of solidarity, pay attention to preserving and promoting the value of Hoa Tien Cave relic, turning this place into a red address for revolutionary tradition education for future generations.
In the program, the organizers presented many meaningful gifts to relatives of martyrs' families and former youth volunteers, expressing the morality of "When drinking water, remember the source". Historical witnesses also exchanged and shared heroic and touching memories.
The highlight of the ceremony is the epic art program "Sacred Fire in Stone" including three chapters: "A Time to Remember", "Sacred Fire in Stone" and "Shining Forever with Time", vividly recreating the historical story at Hoa Tien Cave, depicting images of brave youth volunteers, reviving a glorious but full of loss and sacrifice time.
