The event, which was jointly held by Nhan Dan Newspaper and the central province of Nghe An, saw the attendance of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc as well as other high-ranking Party and State officials.
During the resistant war against the Americans, Truong Bon was a key transport hub for the southern battlefield, making it a focus for bombing from the American imperialists. In just four years, between 1964 and 1968, the site suffered from 18,936 bombs of various types along with thousands of missiles. In the rain of enemy’s bombs, thousands of officers, soldiers, youth volunteers and locals strengthened their courage to bravely hold the site and keep transport routes running smoothly, helping truck convoys carrying soldiers and other necessities to the front line.
Over 1,200 members of the armed forces, police and youth volunteer force sacrificed their lives fighting on the battlefield in Truong Bon, including a group of 14 members of the youth volunteer force established to fill bomb craters alongside the roads and guide trucks across the danger zone. In the early morning of October 31, 1968, 13 youth volunteers were killed by a bomb while they were at work.
Speaking at the ceremony, PM Phuc affirmed that the celebration remembered the glorious history and honoured the service, sacrifices and dedication of war veterans to the nation’s victory against foreign invaders. The sacrifice of 13 youth volunteers was a shining example of the great sacrifice by thousands of Nghe An people, as well as tens of thousands youth volunteers nationwide, who dedicated their youth and lives for the nation’s independence, freedom and reunification.
A performance at the artistic programme named “Truong Bon - Mien Dat Huyen Thoai” (Truong Bon - The Legendary Land), marking the 50th anniversary of Truong Bon Victory in Nghe An province, November 1. (Photo: NDO/Tran Hai)
Together with many other historical sites across the nation, Truong Bon has been carved into the history as a legendary land, a shining symbol of revolutionism, and a highlight in the anti-American resistance war, as well as the pride of all Vietnamese people for the glorious victory and fierce battle against invaders, emphasised the PM, adding that Truong Bon is a red address for educating the future generations about the heroic tradition of the nation and the patriotism to firmly develop the nation.
On behalf of the Party and State leaders, PM Phuc expressed his gratitude to senior leaders, armed force heroes, veterans, former youth volunteers and relatives of martyrs’ families, saying that over the past years, the Party and the State have issued multiple policies to care for people with meritorious services to the nation. It is the responsibility of the whole political system and each of us, who today live in peace and development, he stressed.
The government leader also praised the achievements of Nghe An authorities and people in promoting local socio-economic development as well as preserving the historical revolutionary value by actively and effectively implementing Government policies to pay tribute to the heroes, invalids and martyrs, and support their families, as well as to educate younger generations in the revolutionary tradition.
Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Thuan Huu (fourth from right) and Secretary of Nghe An provincial Party Committee, Nguyen Dac Vinh (fourth from left) present gifts to policy families at the ceremony. (Photo: NDO/Tran Hai)
On the occasion, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Thuan Huu, and Secretary of Nghe An provincial Party Committee, Nguyen Dac Vinh, presented 25 savings books and gifts to relatives of the 13 Truong Bon martyrs, as well as to former youth volunteers, the Management Board of Truong Bon National Historical Relic and Nghe An Study Encouragement Fund, with the total value of nearly VND1 billion.
The 50th anniversary was marked by an artistic programme, namely “Truong Bon - Mien Dat Huyen Thoai” (Truong Bon - The Legendary Land), highlighting the sacrifice of soldiers and volunteers on the battlefield in Truong Bon. The cultural and art performances were performed by artists from the Vietnam Contemporary Arts Theatre and Nghe An province’s folk singing and dancing art troupes.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc joins delegates in offering incense to commemorate martyrs at Truong Bon National Historical Site. (Photo: NDO/Tran Hai)
Earlier, PM Phuc joined the Party and State leaders and Nghe An province’s officials to offer incense and flowers to the heroic martyrs at the Truong Bon National Historical Site.
Following the celebration, at the management office of the Truong Bon Site, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Thuan Huu, donated VND100 million each to the management board of the National Historical Site and the Nghe An Study Encouragement Fund to support their operation and the care for future generations in the province.
Thuan Huu, who is also Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Communications and Education, and the Nhan Dan Newspaper delegation offered incense and flowers at the burial ground of the 13 heroic Truong Bon martyrs and at the memorial site.
