Son My Relic Site - a place that preserves painful memories of a time of bombs and bullets
STRONG PROGRESS - SUCCESS IN COMMON•April 13, 2025 09:30
Son My Relic Site in Quang Ngai province is a place to display and preserve hundreds of artifacts commemorating the war crimes committed by the American invaders.
The Son My Relic Site is located next to Highway 24B in Son My village, Tinh Khe commune (Quang Ngai city) and is a place to commemorate the famous Son My massacre (also known as the My Lai massacre) carried out by the US army. This area is 2.4 hectares wide, consisting of two main areas: the field relic site (west) which has been preserved and restored and the exhibition house area (east).According to historical documents, 57 years ago, on the morning of March 16, 1968, in Son My village, in just one morning, a platoon of US Army soldiers suddenly landed and brutally massacred 504 innocent civilians, mostly elderly people, women and children, without receiving any resistance. Not only did they kill innocent people, they also raped many women, burned down houses... The massacre shocked world public opinion about the crimes committed by the US army against the Vietnamese people, creating a wave of protests against the war of aggression against Vietnam right in the US and around the world. In the photo: The stone stele records the list of people massacred by US soldiers at the Son My relic siteFrom 1977 to 1978, the Son My memorial site was built and inaugurated to commemorate the war crimes of the American invaders. This is the only massacre site in Vietnam that still retains important photos that realistically depict the inhumane, extremely barbaric massacres, leaving the dirtiest, indelible stain on the American army during the Vietnam War.The massacre that shocked the world by the US army against the people of Son My is also recreated through the statues created by artisans in the relic site. Anyone who comes to this place is filled with emotions, both indignant at the barbaric crimes of the American invaders and moved to tears because of the fate of hundreds of innocent people, including many children aged 1-3 years old.The outdoor area of the Son My relic site recreates the scenes of devastation caused by American soldiers in the past. History records that in just one morning, the American invaders burned down 247 houses of Son My people. In the photo: The house of a Son My villager was burned down by the American invaders. All 5 members of this family, including 3 children aged 2-9, were killed by the American invaders on the morning of March 16, 1968.The ditch east of Thuan Yen hamlet - where the American invaders killed 107 out of 504 innocent people - has also been restored in the Son My relic site.Bullet holes from the American invaders are still preserved on the trunk of a coconut tree in the relic site.The memorial site has a rather prominent monument. This is a sculpture created by artist Chau Dinh Du. The artist is Mr. Ho Thu (husband of Ms. Vo Thi Lien - a survivor of the Son My massacre). The project started in October 1976 and was completed in March 1977. The main material is black stone bonded with concrete. The monument depicts the heinous and barbaric crimes of the American empire through the following images: an adult holding a baby in his arms, protecting it; a woman holding an old man who was shot dead by the enemy; a woman who survived the massacre, standing straight, her right hand clenched, raised to the sky, her left hand holding a baby as if denouncing the heinous crimes of the wolves.More than half a century has passed, every time Son My is mentioned, the pain and loss still cannot be forgotten in the minds of Son My people and millions of Vietnamese people and people around the world who love peace. However, Son My people have closed the past to look forward to a bright future, turning pain into motivation, building their homeland and country together, promoting friendship, for peace and progress of humanity. In the photo: A group of tourists listen to a tour guide introduce Son My relic siteSince 2002, Son My relic site has been recognized as a national monument of special importance. This place has become a peaceful and friendly destination, attracting special attention from domestic and international people. Every year, this place welcomes tens of thousands of domestic and foreign tourists to visit and learn about the history of war.Many foreign artists visiting the Son My relic site recorded their feelings or simply played a piece of music to commemorate the 504 victims of the horrific massacre. In the photo: A foreign artist plays the violin at the incense offering ceremony commemorating the 57th anniversary of the massacre of 504 Son My compatriots (March 16, 1968 - March 16, 2025)The bells at the Son My relic site still ring regularly every day to remember and pray for the souls of the 504 civilians who died in the massacre.STRONG PROGRESS - SUCCESS IN COMMON
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