Uncle Ho's soldiers and 19 years of silent green journey

Returning after the war, the veteran still worked tirelessly, regardless of sun or rain, morning or night, to clean every street and alley in the neighborhood, keeping it neat and clean with a voluntary spirit.

In the heart of the bustling and bustling capital Hanoi , there is a small street corner in residential group number 7, Phu Dien Ward that is still peaceful and quiet. Here, every morning or evening, the image of an old man with white hair still diligently sweeping fallen leaves on the street near the B3 apartment building has become very familiar to the people.

Mr. An cleans apartment building B3 every day.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR

He is not an environmental worker, no one pays him, but for the past 19 years, regardless of rain or shine, the old soldier has silently swept the streets to clean them and cared for and protected the green trees, beautifying the residential area's landscape.

He is Hoang Lien An (68 years old), currently residing in room 301, building B3, group 7, Phu Dien ward (Hanoi), a former Ho Chi Minh soldier who fought and died during the fiercest years of the country's war against the US.

Born and raised in a family with a rich tradition of patriotism, in 1971, following the sacred call of the Fatherland, Mr. An volunteered to join the army going south and directly fought to protect the ancient citadel of Quang Tri . After the country was unified, he continued to go to Laos and Cambodia to participate in the southwestern border war.

After the war ended, he returned to E559 Hanoi Capital Command, as a squad leader directly training the reserve army consisting of 19-20 year old youths from Dong Da, Hoan Kiem and Ba Dinh districts. In 1994, he decided to enlist under the 176 regime for personal reasons. The most beautiful youth of his life with the ambitions and aspirations of youth, he rushed into the midst of bullets and arrows, contributing a small part to the cause of liberating the country. Now when talking about the days of holding a gun to fight, he still cannot help but be moved. The military uniform and mementos of the wartime are always cherished and preserved by him as the most precious things in his life.

After days of treatment at Hospital 198, Mr. An went back to the streets to make friends with the "sound of bamboo brooms".

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR

Work hard as if it were your own business

For 19 years, regardless of sun or rain, morning or night, he has volunteered to diligently sweep the streets and alleys in the B3 apartment building where he lives.

When asked, he shared: "I feel annoyed and uncomfortable when I see fallen leaves or trash thrown on the street. I do it out of my heart, no one told me to and I don't ask for anything." It's true that it's because of my heart that I've been able to do this for 19 years. Because of my heart, without asking for anything, without needing to be praised, just to keep the surrounding area clean and beautiful, there are not many people like him.

During the season when the trees change leaves, the road looks like a golden carpet. Many days he has to sweep two or three times to get it clean. Thanks to that, the walkways in the apartment complex are always clean. Time just passes by, from middle age when he was still healthy and agile, to now when he is old and weak (he has had stomach cancer for several years), he still happily works diligently every day as if it were his own family's work.

The children in the football team loved and liked to be near him, listening to him tell stories about the old battlefield.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR

In addition to sweeping the streets, Mr. An also personally planted and cared for many shade trees around the apartment complex. The rows of mango, dracontomelon, rosewood, fig, royal poinciana trees... were planted by him since the first days he moved here (since 2006). Thanks to his daily care, watering and protection, the branches and leaves now grow lush and green, providing cool shade, like the "green lungs" of the building.

Many years of strong storms and winds, especially the Yagi storm in early September 2024, caused some trees to be uprooted and fall in the middle of the road. Seeing the tree company come and cut them into sections and take them away on trucks, he asked the market management team to let him replant the trees. And he spent several days alone trying to replant the trees... Now the trees are green again, spreading their branches and shading in time for the harsh summer sun.

Mr. An in daily life - with his little grandson

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR

In apartment building B3, whenever there was work, Mr. An enthusiastically participated. A few years ago, with the quick and brave reflexes of a special forces soldier trained in the army, when he discovered smoke rising from the third floor of the neighboring house, he promptly broke the lock to save the child who was alone in the house and was playing around, and called on everyone to put out the fire...

At the end of 2023, at the Conference to summarize and reward the examples of "Good people, good deeds" of Bac Tu Liem District, he was honored to receive a certificate of merit. Phu Dien Ward and residential group No. 7 also commended his good deeds to multiply many beautiful and meaningful actions for the community.

Mr. An was awarded the title "Good person, good deed" in 2023 by the People's Committee of Bac Tu Liem district, Hanoi city.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR

Mr. An's work in apartment B3 is always silent like that every day. For 19 years, he has been quietly sweeping the streets, taking care of the trees, protecting the environment so that the building is always green - clean - beautiful. He does it out of his sense of responsibility and nature without calculating gains and losses, nor because of the praise or criticism of others.

As a long-time resident here, witnessing his actions every day, I want to spread beautiful images of that old soldier so that from there, we will love, respect, learn and follow the example of a Ho Chi Minh soldier who has gone through life and death, and still quietly "spreads fragrance" every day with beautiful actions in everyday life.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nguoi-linh-cu-ho-va-19-nam-hanh-trinh-xanh-tham-lang-185250630114158566.htm