Top Leader Commemorates Martyrs in Vietnam-Laos International Fallen Soldiers’ Cemetery

Prime Minister and Party and Government officials paid tribute to heroic martyrs at Vietnam – Laos International Martyrs’ Cemetery. Source: Vietnamnet

A requiem ceremony was held at Vietnam – Laos International Martyrs’ Cemetery in the central province of Nghe An on July 23, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Day of Martyrs and Invalids (July 27).

The Vietnam – Laos International Martyrs’ Cemetery, the only one named after the two nations, is now home to tombs of over 11,000 voluntary soldiers and military experts who sacrificed on Lao battlefields. About 6,900 of them remain unidentified and 570 others lacking homeland identity.

The nearly 7ha cemetery, built in 1976, is located near National Highway 7. In 1982, the Party and State decided to repatriate all remains of Vietnamese volunteer troops in Laos and rebury them in the cemetery.

Students and volunteers join hands to beautify the Vietnam-Laos International Fallen Soldiers' Cemetery in Anh Son district, Nghe An province. Source: Vietnamnet

The annual event offers a chance to express gratitude to heroes who laid down their lives for national independence and freedom, to recall the glorious tradition of the nation in the fight against foreign invaders and to educate young generations about the national patriotic tradition.

It also reflects the national philosophy: “When drinking water, remember its source” as well as conveys a message to the younger generations about the responsibility to live, study, work and dedicate their efforts to the Fatherland; and to preserve and nurture the friendship between Vietnam and Laos.

Ngo Thi Phuong, a teacher of Chau Dinh Primary School (Quy Hop district of Nghe An) and her family went to burn incense for martyr Ngo Xuan Tien (sacrificed on May 8, 1966, in the Laotian battlefield), shared, this is the first time she go to the Vietnam - Laos International Martyrs Cemetery to burn incense for the martyrs who are resting here.

"Knowing that today there are leaders of the Party and State coming to offer incense and pay tribute to the heroes and martyrs resting here, so many people attended and held the incense offering ceremony with respect and emotion," Phuong confided.

As a primary school teacher, Phuong always reminds her students to be grateful and remember the merits of heroes and martyrs; people with revolutionary merits heroically sacrificed themselves for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expresses his deep respect for the great sacrifice of millions of heroes, fallen and wounded soldiers who fought for national independence and for the great international cause. Source: Vietnamnet

At the ceremony, participants showed gratitude to the martyrs who laid down their lives for peace, independence of both countries and the friendship between Vietnam and Laos.

Since 1984, Nghe An has worked on the task with three localities in Laos and repatriated more than 12,300 remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts.

The practical and meaningful activity aims to mark Vietnam’s War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27). Source: Vietnamnet

Earlier, the PM and Party and Government officials also paid tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh and heroic martyrs in the central province of Nghe An.

Offering incense and wreaths at the Chung Son pagoda and the Kim Lien special national heritage site, participating officials expressed their deep gratitude for the late President’s significant contribution to the national revolutionary cause for independence, peace and happiness.

They vowed to follow Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, morality and lifestyle and join a concerted effort for successfully implementing the 13th National Party Congress’s resolution and building a strong and prosperous country.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (3rd from left) and Party and Government officials pay tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at the Chung Son pagoda. Photo: VNA

At the Truong Bon historical site in Do Luong district’s My Son commune, they paid respect to the 1,240 martyrs, who died on the legendary Truong Bon road to protect the route.

From 1964 to 1968, the US dropped 18,936 bombs and tens of thousands of rockets onto Do Luong district, including Truong Bon area. However, tens of thousands of Vietnamese soldiers, youth volunteers and locals persisted in fighting the enemy and securing the route for trucks carrying support to the southern battlefield.

On October 31, 1968, 13 of the 14 youth volunteers of Company 317 were killed by US bombing in this area, a few hours before the US declared a halt to the bombing of the north of Vietnam. Since then, Truong Bon has been a symbol of the bravery of Vietnamese youth volunteers.

Since 1984, Nghe An has worked on the task with three localities in Laos and repatriated more than 12,300 remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts.

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