Lang Son youth: Promoting the tradition of respecting heroes and martyrs

Visiting, presenting gifts; helping families under preferential treatment and people with meritorious services; cleaning memorial stele… are what youth union members and young people have done to show their gratitude to heroes and martyrs. They are just simple activities, but they show the spirit of pioneering in “when drinking water, remember its source” of youth union members, young people to the families of martyrs and families under preferential treatment in the province.

Young people of Lang Son city change flowers on graves at the martyrs’cemetery of Lang Son city

In these days of July, at the martyrs’ cemeteries and memorial stele houses in the province, youth union members, young people and children have formed many groups to change flowers on each grave, clean them and clean cemetery ground, memorial steles… They have carefully done it to show respect for heroes and martyrs. Along with that, the Youth Union of districts and Lang Son city and their smaller units also visited and present gifts of gratitude to families under preferential treatment, war invalids, relatives of martyrs, former youth volunteers…

Ms. Le Thuy Dung, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Youth Union, said: “Paying tribute” is a movement that receives the attention of all levels of youth unions in the province and it is included in the annual action plan, especially in July. Accordingly, in action programs such as Youth Month, Summer Volunteer Campaign, Winter Volunteer Campaign and Volunteering Spring, there are activities to take care and help families under preferential treatment; to visit and present gifts to people with meritorious services. On Invalids and Martyrs’ Day July 27, all levels of youth unions offer incense and flower at martyrs’ cemeteries and memorial stele houses in the province.

Additionally, youth unions at all levels have posted on social networks, pages of youth unions and federations about the history and meaning of Invalids and Martyrs’ Day; praising the sacrifices and feats of heroic martyrs, wounded soldiers and people with meritorious services to the revolution, the example of sacrifices of heroes and martyrs. From 2022 until now, youth unions at all levels in the province have posted more than 3,000 news on the fanpages and social networks of the youth union, uploaded content about gratitude activities for heroes, martyrs, families under preferential treatment and people with meritorious services; organized 155 activities on visiting historical locations.

Moreover, the youth unions at all levels reviewed and grasped the situation of the families under preferential treatment with difficult circumstances and the need for support in order to develop practical and effective help plans. Accordingly, from 2022 up to now, the youth unions at all levels have organized 351 cleaning, remodeling, embellishment, cleaning martyr memorials, creating a clean and beautiful environment around cemeteries, historical and cultural relics; supporting families with meritorious services to harvest crops with the participation of nearly 10,000 youth union members and young people. Additionally, over 500 gifts were given to families with relatives who are war invalids, martyrs, and families with meritorious services to the revolution in difficult circumstances worth more than 500 million VND.

In particular, on Invalids and Martyrs’ Day July 27 every year, all levels of youth union held a candle-lighting ceremony at 12 cemeteries in the province, attracting about 6,000 union members and young people. Mr. Trinh Ngoc Hoang, member of the Youth Union of Muong Thanh Hotel, Lang Son city said: “Every July, I participate in activities organized by the youth union, such as visiting and giving gifts to families under preferential treatment; cleaning martyrs cemetery; lighting candles to pay tribute to heroes and martyrs… I think this is a very meaningful activity to educate youth union members and young people in the area about the tradition of “When drinking water, remember its source”.”

Ms. Nguyen Thi Teo (Agent Orange victim), block 1, Tam Thanh ward, Lang Son city said: “When I was young, I was one of those opening Ho Chi Minh road. During this time, I was infected with Agent Orange. Up to now, although the war has ended, I have still heavily been affected by Agent Orange. In these days of July, I received many greetings, encouragements and gifts from youth union members and young people of the city. I am very happy to share my story, to give them the motivation to study, strive and contribute to the country.”

The movement “Paying tribute”, “When drinking water, remember its source” are two among the highlights of the youth union work and youth movement in the province in recent years, clearly demonstrating the roles and responsibilities of the young generation for the community, contributing to taking care of the material and spiritual life of beneficiaries of preferential policy and people with meritorious services in the province.