The event was organized by the gac Ma Veterans Association in coordination with the Literature and Arts Association of Ba Don town (Quang Binh province), Quang Phuc ward government. This is an annual gratitude activity, held for the past 15 years, to commemorate the Navy soldiers who heroically sacrificed their lives to protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.
At the Quang Phuc Ward Martyrs' Cemetery - the resting place of martyrs and heroes of the People's Armed Forces Tran Van Phuong, veterans and relatives of martyrs offered incense and flowers, respectfully commemorating 64 soldiers who died in the Gac Ma sea battle on March 14, 1988 .
Not far away, the soldiers returning did not forget to burn incense on the tomb of Ms. Ho Thi Duc - mother of martyr Tran Van Phuong. During her lifetime, she was the common mother of many veterans of the Gaz Ma family, who had stood shoulder to shoulder with her son that year. Two years since her death, the image of Mrs. Gac Ma is still imprinted in Mr. Phuong's teammates' minds.
Veteran Tran Van Son, from Bo Trach district, sadly recalled that he and his teammates had traveled on ships to fight. The remaining soldiers consider March 14 as the anniversary of their comrades' death. Every year, we come back together, when in Ba Don, when at Thien Cam beach (Ha Tinh), when at Da Nang, to burn incense together to commemorate those who have passed away at sea.
37 years ago, on March 14, 1988, 64 soldiers of the Vietnam Navy fought steadfastly and sacrificed to protect the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland, bringing peace to the country.
The heroic sacrifice of you has always been remembered by our Party, State and people forever.
On the evening of March 13, on the banks of the Gianh River, the veterans of the Gaz Ma River and the martyrs' families held a ceremony to release flower lanterns and offer incense in memory. 64 flower lanterns follow the water flowing into the sea, as a gratitude to comrades who never return.
Veteran Nguyen Van Luc (Quang Thuy ward, Ba Don town) was moved, 37 years have passed but the image of his teammates is still in his heart. Those who returned to this river wharf headed towards Truong Sa, where they had been staying forever.
At the memorial ceremony, soldiers from the past sang a song about Truong Sa, about the sacred love of the sea and islands. In the midst of offshore parasites, they used to sing together like that, when they were at sea, they would protect the island. And now, that song resounds again, like a message: Gac Ma, Truong Sa, Hoang Sa belongs to Vietnam!
