An emotional rainy night at the place where 16 youth volunteers died 53 years ago

Present at Long Dai Ferry Terminal 2 to watch the program, historian Duong Trung Quoc said that the image that impressed him most was that despite the heavy rain, the incense sticks in the incense burner commemorating the martyrs were still burning, "not a single incense stick was left unfinished".

Emotional rainy night at Long Dai Ferry Terminal 2

Located on the supply route from the North to the South, Long Dai Ferry Terminal 2 (Truong Ninh Commune, Quang Tri Province) was once likened to a "bomb bag" and a "fire pan" in the resistance war against the US. Here, in September 1972, 16 youth volunteers of Company C130 from Thai Binh (now Hung Yen) heroically sacrificed their lives. This place has just been recognized as a National Historical Site.

Commemorating the 53rd anniversary of the sacrifice of 16 youth volunteers of Company C130, Quang Tri province coordinated with Vietnam Television, with the support of T&T Group andSHB Bank, to organize the program "Gratitude - Fire and Flower River" - an art night recreating the legend of Long Dai ferry. The program is a deep gratitude to the heroic martyrs who sacrificed for the cause of national liberation, at the same time, spreading revolutionary traditions, arousing national pride for the young generation today and tomorrow.

When the show started, there was heavy rain, strong winds, and constant thunder and lightning, but the artists still performed with all their respect and devotion for the deceased. Hundreds of spectators still sat quietly, attentively watching the show until the last minute. Occasionally, amidst the soulful sounds of the lyrics and music, a few sobs could be heard. Some hands gently raised to wipe away the drops of water rolling down their cheeks, it was unclear whether it was rain or tears, only knowing that everything had melted together in a sacred moment, where the past and present seemed to intersect in a river of fire and flowers.

According to historian Duong Trung Quoc, usually when organizing an event, no one wants it to rain. However, with this event, when the content refers to a harsh period, the rain accompanied by thunder during the program brought a lot of emotions to the audience.

“Gratitude - Fire and Flower River” ends with pride and hope with the powerful voice of singer Tung Duong.

In the latter part of the program, the weather gradually cleared up. In particular, when singer Tung Duong sang the song “Continuing the Peace Story” by musician Nguyen Van Chung to end the program, the sky was very clear. That moment moved many people because they saw a profound metaphor: “The rain of the past, soaked in blood and loss, then gradually dissipated, to make way for the sky of aspirations for peace and a developing future.”

A vivid slice of the heroic land

On September 19, Quang Tri province inaugurated the project to renovate the Memorial Site of 16 youth volunteers at Long Dai Ferry Terminal 2. The project was supported by T&T Group and many businesses and individuals, demonstrating the spirit of "remembering the source of water when drinking" and "repaying gratitude" - the fine traditional values of the Vietnamese people.

This project not only commemorates a tragic event, but also has a broader meaning: It is a symbol, representing many heroic ferry terminals across the country during wartime, especially on the Ho Chi Minh trail.

Project to renovate the Memorial Area of 16 youth volunteers who died in September 1972.

Long Dai Ferry Terminal 2 is also a small slice of Quang Tri land - a resilient land, which used to be the dividing line between North and South, where 81 fierce days and nights in the Ancient Citadel, where hundreds of thousands of tons of bombs and bullets were borne. But it was also this place, after the war, that strongly revived - with the iron will and patriotism of people who refused to bow their heads.

Present at the inauguration ceremony of the Memorial Site renovation project, Mr. Do Quang Vinh - Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Deputy General Director of SHB Bank - emotionally shared: "It is fortunate to be a young person to meet living witnesses of a time of bombs and bullets and to hear stories that are both touching and respectful, and proud of the indomitable will of the heroic martyrs."

With deep gratitude, the Vice Chairman of SHB Board of Directors expressed his wish to contribute more to gratitude activities and join hands in building an increasingly strong and prosperous country.

Clear skies after the rain - from "fire pan" to a land of strong revival

Quang Tri today - from a heroic "land of fire", is strongly growing to become a land of many potentials and advantages, opening up new development opportunities in all 3 areas: Economy - Culture - Tourism.

Not only a war relic, Quang Tri is now also a place that bears the aspiration for peace and development. From the ruins of the past, new constructions and modern projects have sprung up, carrying the spirit of inheritance and continuation of the ideals of those who fell for independence and freedom.

Located in the center of the country, the gateway to the sea of the East-West economic corridor, Quang Tri holds a particularly important strategic position, not only in socio-economic development but also in national defense and security. This is the intersection between economies, the place where international trade converges and spreads, connecting Vietnam with Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and further to the Indian Ocean.

Many large-scale infrastructure projects are being implemented: from logistics, trade, seaport services, aviation, industrial parks - economic zones... All are being planned and invested as platforms for breakthroughs, bringing Quang Tri quickly on the path of integration and sustainable development.

From Long Dai ferry in the rain and wind, to the tall buildings at the East-West gateway, Quang Tri is asserting its new position day by day - just like the indomitable and persistent spirit that this land has preserved throughout history.

Rain - symbolizing the difficult past and the clear sky that followed - is the symbol of the desire for peace and development of a land that has never bowed its head.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/dem-mua-day-cam-xuc-o-noi-16-thanh-nien-xung-phong-hy-sinh-53-nam-truoc-718057.html