Commencement of the Memorial Site for Southern Compatriots and Soldiers Regrouping to the North

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a memorial site for compatriots, cadres, soldiers and students from the South who gathered in the North in Quang Tien ward, Sam Son city on the morning of August 28.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the ceremony.

According to information from the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province, from mid-October 1954 to May 1955, in Quang Tien commune (now Quang Tien ward, Sam Son city), Thanh Hoa welcomed 1,869 wounded and sick soldiers; 47,346 cadres; 5,922 students and 1,443 families of cadres from the South to the North as if welcoming relatives, with the affection of "North and South are one family".

For nearly 70 years, the cadres, soldiers and students from the South who gathered in the North to study and train have participated in and made many great contributions to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

Many have become leaders of the Party and State, famous generals, scientists, artists, journalists, many talented businessmen, Heroes of the Armed Forces, Heroes of Labor, contributing to making their homeland and country famous.

In 2014, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the day when cadres, soldiers, people and students from the South gathered in the North, in accordance with the wishes of former cadres, soldiers and students from the South, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee agreed to assign Sam Son City to arrange land to build a project to commemorate the compatriots, cadres, soldiers and students from the South who gathered in the North.

After a period of preparation, the Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee approved the planning of this memorial project in October 2014 and approved the investment policy for construction in June 2015. In September 2020, the Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Council issued a resolution on the construction of this project, assigning the Sam Son City People's Committee as the investor.

The project has a total investment of nearly 255 billion VND, of which Thanh Hoa province's budget supports 76.5 billion VND, Sam Son city's budget and other mobilized sources account for 178.5 billion VND.

In which, Thanh Hoa province budget ensures land clearance and investment in technical infrastructure works. The cost of building the entire monument is mobilized by the Association of Southern cadres, soldiers and compatriots regrouping in the North from socialized sources. The project investment scale includes two areas.

Area A with an area of ​​13,580m2, includes the following items: the assembly ship monument, the exhibition house, reception, combined with documentary film screening; large bow-shaped relief and auxiliary works.

Area B has an area of ​​1,985m2, including three camps, a well, landscape trees and auxiliary works, simulating the accommodation and living areas of the people, cadres, soldiers and students in the South.

At the same time, there is also the Memory Road with a length of 1.1km, the branch line of Nam Song Ma Avenue to Area B with a length of 665m, and a thematic park with an area of ​​23,865m2. The estimated time to implement and complete the project is 270 days.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc requested that the construction of the Memorial Site for Southern compatriots, cadres, soldiers and students who gathered in the North must meet the requirements on quality and cultural value of the project, ensuring progress.

Thanh Hoa province needs to closely coordinate with the Southern Student Liaison Committee nationwide and the families of former cadres, soldiers and students in the South to actively respond and organize the collection of documents, images, artifacts and memorabilia showing the North-South affection of the people of the two regions during the resistance war against the US to save the country.

Recreating the heroic images of our nation's history at that time, especially the trains carrying more than 150,000 compatriots, cadres, soldiers and students from the South to the North.

Model of the memorial site for compatriots, cadres, soldiers and students from the South who gathered in the North in Quang Tien ward, Sam Son city (Thanh Hoa)

"I call on families and students who have gathered in the North to contribute any remaining artifacts to make this museum a place for people and soldiers from all over the country to visit when they come to Thanh Hoa province. Accordingly, I suggest that there should be cultural diversity in the South, the Central Highlands and other regions represented in this meaningful project.

I hope that after completion, this memorial site will truly become an attractive destination for domestic people and international friends, a red address to educate revolutionary traditions and patriotism for generations of Vietnamese when they come to the brave and resilient land of Thanh Hoa, demonstrating our North-South solidarity," President Nguyen Xuan Phuc said.

In addition, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc also requested the Southern Student Liaison Committee, depending on specific conditions and local wishes, to have practical forms of gratitude such as rebuilding schools, giving charity houses, giving scholarships, and learning equipment to poor students to repay part of the deep affection that the people of the North in general and Thanh Hoa province in particular have given to the people of the South.

On this occasion, the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province also held an announcement ceremony of the Prime Minister's decision recognizing Sam Son City for completing the task of building new rural areas and Sam Son City receiving the Third Class Labor Medal.

According to Tuoi Tre