The journey is not tiring

The journey is tireless

Memorial service and burial of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos.

In the context of harsh climate and weather conditions; complex and changing terrain, martyrs' graves are mainly located in high mountains, deep forests, and areas previously targeted by enemy attacks; there are many remaining bombs and mines; information about martyrs' graves is increasingly scarce and scattered in the area... However, with the close direction of the Provincial Steering Committee 515, the coordination of Laos and the high sense of responsibility of officers and soldiers, the Collection Team has overcome difficulties, deployed tasks according to plan, expanded the search area, completed and exceeded the assigned targets.

Every year, from October of the previous year to May of the following year, the Collection Team under the Provincial Military Command is assigned to go to Hua Phan province (Laos) to search for and collect martyrs' remains according to the approved plan. During the implementation of the task, the unit regularly coordinates with Hua Phan province to promote propaganda and mobilize local people to provide information about martyrs and graves of Vietnamese soldiers who died during the war, creating favorable conditions for the search and collection work to be highly effective. As a result, in the 2021-2025 period, 109 martyrs' remains were searched and collected (83 in Laos, 26 in Vietnam); in the 2024-2025 dry season alone, 22 martyrs' remains were searched and collected (21 in Laos, 1 in Vietnam). The memorial and burial ceremonies for martyrs' remains in the 2021-2025 period were led and directed to be organized strictly, solemnly, and in accordance with military protocol. The organization has many innovations, ensuring education and spreading the tradition of "When drinking water, remember its source", "Repaying gratitude", and at the same time showing the deep gratitude of the Party Committee, government, people and armed forces for the contributions and noble sacrifices of heroic martyrs.

Along with carrying out political tasks, in the period of 2021-2025 with a budget of more than 3.3 billion VND, the Martyrs' Remains Collection Team also performed well in mass mobilization work such as examining, treating, and providing medicine to the people of the neighboring country where the unit performed its tasks; spending time on holidays and breaks to help the people of the villages repair temporary bridges; upgrading and expanding roads to villages... Thereby, contributing to strengthening the friendly relationship between the people of the two provinces and supporting the search and collection work. From the dry season of 2023-2024, the Collection Team was supported by the National Steering Committee 515 with policies to serve mass mobilization and foreign affairs (200kg of dry food and 30 million VND/year to buy medicine), creating favorable conditions for the task and contributing to strengthening the special solidarity relationship between Vietnam and Laos. In May 2025, the working group of the Provincial Steering Committee 515 went to work with the Hua Phan provincial government to survey and determine the location to build a barracks for the Collection Team, ensuring the long-term task of searching for and collecting martyrs' remains on Lao soil.

During the implementation of the task, the Steering Committee 515 of Thanh Hoa province regularly exchanged, learned from experience, strengthened coordination in inspection, evaluated results, and promptly commended and rewarded organizations and individuals of each side with outstanding achievements in performing the task. Actively advised and proposed contents and solutions to promote the search and collection of martyrs' remains. Strengthened exchanges, coordinated review, collection, and provision of information on martyrs and martyrs' graves. Inspected and evaluated the coordination in performing the task of the search and collection of martyrs' remains in Hua Phan province. Organized widespread communication to Party committees, authorities, the Fatherland Front, organizations at all levels and the people to know the places of worship of martyrs, proactively advised working groups to visit relatives, offer incense, and pay tribute to martyrs.

Identifying that the task of searching and collecting martyrs' remains in Laos is increasingly facing many difficulties in terms of information sources and search areas, the Steering Committee 515 of Thanh Hoa province has directed the Martyrs' Remains Search and Collection Team to survey and grasp information, and at the same time organize training with correct and sufficient content and programs of good quality. Materials, logistics, military equipment, food, medical supplies, technical means, and equipment are fully prepared in accordance with regulations.

To successfully complete the task, the Provincial Steering Committee 515 continues to thoroughly grasp the Party and State's guidelines and policies on searching and collecting martyrs' remains. In addition, effectively organize the activities of searching, collecting and identifying the remains of martyrs with missing information, perfect and promote the role and responsibility of the steering committee and standing agencies, perfect the forces performing the task of searching and collecting martyrs' remains. Pay attention to taking care of, ensuring timely and full regimes and policies for the forces performing the task; do well the work of military diplomacy, people's diplomacy, promote activities to help friends in order to constantly consolidate and strengthen the special friendship and great solidarity between Vietnam and Laos in general and Thanh Hoa - Hua Phan provinces in particular, forever green and sustainable.

Article and photos: Hoang Lan

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/hanh-trinh-khong-moi-255244.htm