Racing against time to take martyr remains samples
On July 17, the Steering Committee for Identifying Martyrs' Remains of Ca Mau province continued to deploy sampling of martyrs' remains that have not been identified at Phuoc Long Martyrs' Cemetery.
This is the cemetery with the largest number of unidentified martyrs' graves in the province, with 761 graves needing to be sampled for DNA testing.
To perform the task, the Ca Mau Provincial Military Command - the standing agency of the Steering Committee - established 2 sample taking teams and ensuring teams, mobilizing about 70 officers, soldiers and local workers to participate.
According to the requirements of the Provincial Steering Committee, the entire sampling process must be carried out according to professional procedures, ensuring absolute accuracy, without confusion. Each remains sample is digitized in management records, serving storage, preservation and handover to specialized DNA testing agencies.
Colonel Le Quang Luat - Deputy Political Commissar of the Ca Mau Provincial Military Command - said that taking samples of martyrs' remains without identifying information has particularly important political significance and profound humanistic value, reflecting the morality of "When drinking water, remember the source", the gratitude of the Party, State and people to those who sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.
After completing the sampling at Phuoc Long Martyrs' Cemetery, all 761 samples will be handed over to the Ministry of Public Security for DNA testing, serving the identification of martyrs.
According to Colonel Le Quang Luat, the implementation process encountered many difficulties because many cemeteries have been renovated and upgraded many times, and the impact of time and weather conditions has made the determination of location and preservation of samples require high caution.
Although there are still many difficulties, the implementing force will strengthen inspection and supervision of each stage with the highest goal of identifying the most martyrs' identities, so that they can return to their names and to their loved ones after many years of waiting," Colonel Luat said.
According to the plan, the sampling at Phuoc Long Martyrs' Cemetery will be carried out until July 21.
May those who have sacrificed be returned to their names
Vice Chairman of Ca Mau Provincial People's Committee Ngo Vu Thang said that the province is synchronously implementing the plan according to the direction of the Central Government and strives to complete the sampling of remains of unidentified martyrs in 2026, sooner than the assigned schedule.
According to Mr. Thang, the completion of sampling is an important step for specialized agencies to conduct DNA testing, thereby identifying martyrs and meeting the expectations of many families that have waited for decades.
Not only those who directly command, but every officer and soldier participating in the mission considers this a sacred responsibility.
Senior Lieutenant Ho Chau Minh Phu - Deputy Company Commander of Engineering Company 1, Staff Department, Ca Mau Provincial Military Command - shared that he feels very honored to be assigned this special task.
Every time I take samples, I deeply understand the value of peace and am grateful for the great sacrifices of the heroic martyrs who fell for the Fatherland," Senior Lieutenant Phu said.
Present at the cemetery, Mr. Mai Chi Vinh - Secretary of the Party Cell of Long Thanh hamlet, Phuoc Long commune - could not hide his emotion when witnessing the forces carefully performing each stage.
According to Mr. Vinh, there are still many families who have not found their loved ones who have sacrificed. Therefore, everyone hopes that DNA testing will help identify many martyrs, so that they can return to their families' arms after many years of being unknown.
Sharing the same feeling, Ms. Ngo Thi Viet (79 years old), daughter of a Vietnamese Heroic Mother, and also a martyr's wife, said that taking remains samples to identify identities is a meaningful act, especially when the whole country is looking towards War Invalids and Martyrs' Day on July 27.
Too many people have sacrificed without names. Hopefully this sampling will help many families find their loved ones again. That is the most meaningful thing for those who are still alive," Ms. Viet said emotionally.
