War Invalids and Martyrs Day July 27: Season of gratitude in the "land of fire" Quang Tri

July - the season of gratitude, coincidentally, thousands of people from all over the country return to the "land of fire" Quang Tri to offer fresh wreaths and light incense sticks to pay tribute to the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the fight for independence, freedom, peace and national reunification.

The "red addresses"

Quang Tri is called the "land of fire" because every inch of land, river, and place name here bears the mark of a time of bombs and bullets; suffering much pain, sacrifice, loss, and witnessing the brutality and destruction of war.

The “red addresses” during the gratitude season in the “land of fire” Quang Tri always welcome long lines of people of all ages to visit and commemorate the nation’s outstanding sons who fell for independence, freedom and national unity, for the happiness of the people.

Quang Tri province currently has 72 martyr cemeteries, the resting place of nearly 60,000 martyrs from all over the country; including two national martyr cemeteries, Truong Son and Road 9, each cemetery has more than 10,000 martyrs resting.

Quang Tri also has nearly 500 revolutionary historical relics; including relics associated with the great national defense war such as: Hien Luong - Ben Hai banks, Ho Chi Minh trail, Vinh Moc tunnels and Vinh Linh tunnel village system, Quang Tri ancient citadel and memorial sites of the 81-day and night event in 1972 along with the landmarks of Road 9-Khe Sanh-Lang Vay-Lao Bao-Ta Con airport - Dong Tri hill - Doc Mieu base.

Exactly 52 years ago, during the 81-day and night battle (June 28 - September 16, 1972) to protect Quang Tri Citadel, thousands of soldiers crossed the Thach Han River to enter the Citadel to fight to protect every inch of land here. Their blood and bones merged into the ground, into the Thach Han River.

Your names and achievements, as well as the Thach Han River and Quang Tri Citadel, have been recorded in the nation's history as a brilliant milestone.

In July, every night, people flock to the banks of the Thach Han River to release flower lanterns to pay tribute to the heroic martyrs who are still lying at the bottom of the river. The flower lanterns are released, the light spreads across the river, shimmering and then gently drifting along the water. The Thach Han River seems to have the sound of martyrs singing a military march.

Mr. Pham Van Xuong, 67 years old, from Thanh Hoa province shared that the atmosphere on the banks of the historic Thach Han River on the days of July is truly sacred. Coming here, he fulfilled his wish to burn incense, release flower lanterns to show gratitude and remember the martyrs who are lying at the bottom of the river.

Along with Thach Han River, Quang Tri Citadel, National Martyrs' Cemetery Route 9, Truong Son National Martyrs' Cemetery, in July, regardless of sun or rain, day or night, long lines of people line up to visit and commemorate the heroic martyrs.

At these “red addresses”, incense smoke still lingers fragrantly on the graves of martyrs and memorials every day. The bells ring continuously as if to invite people to come here to send their wishes, praying for the souls of martyrs to be liberated, for the country to be peaceful forever, and for the people to be happy forever.

Every July, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, 60 years old, from Thai Binh province visits her relatives and martyrs at Truong Son National Martyrs Cemetery.

Ms. Hoa shared that she could not remember the number of times she had visited this cemetery to pay respect to the martyrs, but each time she came, she was moved, choked up, and extremely proud of the great sacrifices of the heroic martyrs.

Message of peace from the land of fire

70 years ago, the Geneva Agreement on the cessation of hostilities and restoration of peace in Indochina was signed (July 21, 1954) and took the 17th Parallel on the Ben Hai River (bordering Vinh Linh and Gio Linh districts, Quang Tri province) as a temporary military demarcation line.

However, the US imperialists broke their promise and made the Ben Hai River the place where the two borders were divided. The 17th parallel in the “land of fire” Quang Tri became a symbol of the pain of the country’s division for 21 years (1954-1975) and the embodiment of the desire for peace and national reunification.

Also in the "land of fire", the feat of holding the Quang Tri Citadel for 81 days and nights in the summer of 1972 contributed to forcing the enemy to sit at the negotiating table to sign the Paris Agreement on January 27, 1973 on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam.

The historical events and glorious victories in the great national defense war have turned the "land of fire" Quang Tri into a place bearing the eternal desire for peace of the Vietnamese people, deeply and strongly shaking the conscience of peace-loving humanity.

This July, for the first time, Quang Tri province organized the Peace Festival to convey the message: Peace is not only a state of no conflict or war, but also extends to respect, equality, friendship, cooperation and development among nations; it is love between people, between individuals and communities and between communities.

Peace is also a song of joy, happiness, and the simple things in life that need to be cherished, respected, and preserved.

The main space of the festival is held in places that symbolize the desire for life and peace, such as: Quang Tri Citadel and Thach Han River, the special national relic of Hien Luong - Ben Hai (17th Parallel).

With the theme “Joining hands to build world peace”, the festival is organized with many art activities, painting exhibitions, seminars… to convey the message about Vietnam's desire for peace.

Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee Vo Van Hung shared that the festival is held in July to pay tribute to heroic martyrs who heroically sacrificed for the nation's survival; commemorate war victims and convey the message that Vietnam loves peace, the Vietnamese people are friendly, tolerant and humane; and at the same time wish to contribute to creating and maintaining peace for humanity.