Artifacts that go along with time

– Among thousands of documents and artifacts kept and displayed at the Provincial Museum, artifacts from the Resistance War Against US imperialists period have a very important position for traditional historical education. Among them, there are many precious artifacts related to important historical events, typical collectives and individuals in the patriotic emulation movement collected by the museum or donated by veterans and voluntary families.

War memorabilia of the Resistance War against the US imperialists period of Lang Son veterans are on display at the Provincial Museum

The most prominent among more than 300 artifacts of the Resistance War Against US imperialists period being kept and displayed at the provincial museum are those associated with typical advanced collectives and individuals of the province. During the 1954 to1975 period, Lang Son actively built socialism while trying to support human and material resources for the South to fight for national reunification. From those emulation movements, there have appeared patriotic examples, armed forces heroes in many fields. They are the people who have made excellent achievements on the battlefields of the South or right in their homeland, well known by many people. Artifacts about them in the museum not only speak for their outstanding achievements but also have historical imprints. These are the wreckage of the American aircraft that was shot down by the female militia squad of Quang Lang (Chi Lang) with infantry guns on October 17, 1965 when it came to bombard the area of Lang Giai station, Song Hoa; the wreckage of the American aircraft F4-H shot down by Tan Thanh guerrillas at Huu Lung on October 15, 1965; The wreckage of the American aircraft F101 heroically shot down by the 101st Air Defense Division (Provincial Military) at Huu Lung on October 5, 1965 while it was scouting our military base… In addition, there are weapons and items that our soldiers have used in combat such as shell shells of C4 units (anti-aircraft artillery) stationed at Tan Mat hill (Yen Thinh village, Hoa Lac commune, Huu Lung district) which were used to shoot American aircrafts that violated Chi Lang’s airspace and protect bridges: Song Hoa, Suoi Lan, Giap and Cau Mo in 1972. Cannon bullets were used by the militiamen of Tan Thanh commune (Huu Lung district) to shoot down an American aircrafts in June 1972. In particular, there is a collection of artifacts related to hero Nong Van Nghi – who did not mind the hardships and dangers bravely, dismantling dozens of bombs and mines dropped by US aircrafts on the railways, bridges and roads in order to destroy traffic and prevent the aid of the socialist countries for the southern battlefield. This group of artifacts includes a number of personal items that the comrade used during the time of clearing bombs and mines in Chi Lang and Huu Lung in the period 1965 to 1972, and the primitive means the hero used to destroy bombs when doing the task of clearing bombs and mines such as hammer, hammer nails, iron chisels, parachute coils…

Items of hero Nong Van Nghi used to defuse bombs and mines at Chi Lang, Huu Lung from 1965 to 1972

During the years when the US imperialists bombed and destroyed the North, Lang Son was the province that made many achievements in shooting American aircraft, and was repeatedly awarded the flag of competition by Uncle Ho and the Northern Vietnam military zone. Regarding the achievement of shooting American aircrafts of Lang Son army and people, in the museum there is a six-barreled gun from the American aircraft shot down at Van Linh (Chi Lang) on September 12, 1972, a piece of the aircraft that was shot down by the people of Lang Son – that is the same piece of the 3,900th aircraft shot down in the North of Vietnam. In addition, the items Lang Son people used when participating in the capture of American pilots such as : the soft gun that Mr. Luong Van So used to capture the American pilot in Van Linh (Chi Lang) on September 14, 1972, the rope that comrade Loc Quoc Phong – Loc Binh militia used to tie two American pilots on the aircraft we shot down on October 17, 1965, the scythe of Mr. Nong Van Nhu in Song Hoa, Chi Lang district used to capture the American pilot on July 29, 1972, a certificate of merit from Lang Son Provincial Military was given to soldier Vi Van Dac, a native of Mai Sao commune, Chi Lang district for his brave and clever record of capturing an American pilot on April 22, 1966… The historical imprint of the resistance against the Americans to save the country in Lang Son is also clearly shown through the artifacts of the petroleum pipeline connecting Lang Son to Binh Phuoc to supply fuel for the southern battlefield, the The twinning flag between the women and young people of the two provinces of Lang Son – Dak Lak in 1961 symbolizes the North-South feelings of flesh and blood, and many other precious artifacts.

Diary of martyr Pham Quang Son (Dong Kinh ward, Lang Son city) written at Quang Tri battlefield, 1972

During the years of fighting against the US imperialists to save the country, tens of thousands of Lang Son youths volunteered to go to the South to fight with beautiful ideals and ambitions. That spirit has been expressed very clearly in the volunteer letters written from their patriotic hearts and enthusiastic enthusiasm. From Huu Lung, Mr. Doan Duy Liem – a worker at Camp 66, Ms. Dang Thi Le Thi from the district’s food department wrote and signed the application with her own blood to volunteer to fight in the South. Not directly to the battlefield, In 1966, In Lang Son Electrical Engineering Union, Ms. Pham Thi Cam – construction worker at B15, Department of Basic Construction, Ministry of Light Industry, based in Lang Son, wrote a letter of determination to respond to the call to fight against the US imperialists to save the country, vowing to contribute to the cause of the struggle for national reunification for the whole nation. Their days on the frontline are clearly shown through a group of battlefield memorabilia. They are the military equipment provided by the army that have followed in the footsteps of soldiers during the arduous war years: military uniforms, parachute hammocks, backpacks, water bottle, first aid boxes; They are the heartfelt letters from the frontline sent to their families, diaries written in the smoke of bombs… Simple but expressive memorabilia shows the difficult and arduous life of soldiers at the frontline, their deep feelings for the backline and their comrades; their optimism, iron faith on the day of victory. The soldier’s life in the battlefield is also vividly shown through homemade utensils. They usually have stated the time and place of the production to mark the anniversary. The images of doves, roses, and village landscapes carved on hairbrushes, toothpaste dispensers, teapots made from American aircraft wreckage, and bomb launchers not only show the love and attachment to the homeland of the South, but also expressed the desire for peace and reunification of the country of the soldiers of the Liberation Army.

The war was over, the simple artifacts in the museum are always reminiscent of a time of war, the heroic years of the homeland and the country. Behind each artifact are stories about the silent sacrifices, dedications and great contributions of the previous generations for the independence, freedom and reunification of the Fatherland. Those artifacts have become an important part of the country’s cultural heritage and will remain forever with time, living forever in the nation’s memory.