On August 28, at Hai Lang Martyrs' Cemetery, Dien Sanh commune, the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Quang Tri province solemnly organized a memorial service and burial of 13 sets of remains of martyrs found in the Cau Nhi area, Nam Hai Lang commune.
Under the solemn altars, 13 sets of martyrs' remains were placed neatly in rows, next to incense sticks, flowers and offerings. In the sound of memorial music, delegates, officers, soldiers and people respectfully bowed to commemorate those who lay down on the battlefield for more than half a century.
After the memorial service, officers and soldiers of the Quang Tri Provincial Military Command took turns bringing the remains of the martyrs to their graves. The slow steps in the cemetery, the bowings to the graves made the atmosphere of the ceremony more touching and solemn.
In the early morning of May 26, 1972, a fierce battle took place at Cau Nhi. More than 100 officers and soldiers of Battalion 6, Regiment 88, Division 308 fought to prevent the enemy from supporting Hill 35. 93 officers and soldiers bravely sacrificed. To date, veterans of Division 308 have identified a list of more than 80 martyrs who sacrificed in this area.
From 1992 to 2025, 29 sets of martyrs' remains were collected at Cau Nhi and brought to be buried at Hai Lang Martyrs' Cemetery. Among them, one martyr has been identified as martyr Tran Minh Tuyen, from Thai Binh.
In June 2025, from information provided by engineer Lam Hong Tien and the research group, Steering Committee 515 of Quang Tri province directed the verification of documents, maps, meeting with witnesses, field surveys and organizing workshops to zone searches.
After the workshop on July 10, 2026, Team 584, Quang Tri Provincial Military Command continuously deployed searches. More than a month later, 13 sets of martyrs' remains were found at the Cau Nhi battlefield. Among them, 8 sets of remains had biological samples taken to serve the work of identifying identities.
Reading the eulogy at the ceremony, Vice Chairman of Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee Le Van Bao emotionally emphasized: "Today, you have returned. Returning after 54 years of lying in the heart of mother earth. Returning to 29 comrades who are resting at Hai Lang Martyrs' Cemetery".
According to Mr. Le Van Bao, searching, repatriating and identifying martyrs is not only a political task but also a "command from the heart". "A martyr who has not been found is still a family who cannot soothe their longing; a name that has not been identified is still a debt of gratitude," Mr. Bao said.
Colonel Truong Viet Hai - Political Commissar of the Quang Tri Provincial Military Command said that the areas provided by witnesses and veterans have been focused on searching and reviewing by functional forces.
After 54 years, 13 soldiers from the Cau Nhi battlefield have returned, resting in peace with their comrades. New graves at Hai Lang Martyrs' Cemetery close a journey of searching, but the journey to bring back the martyrs still lying on the old battlefield continues.
