"Symphony" connecting past - present - future

Monument "Those who lie beyond the horizon" at the memorial site.

Passing the steps, the memorial site on a 2.5-hectare hill opened before our eyes amidst a vast green space. The wind blowing from the sea rustled through the canopy like the whispers of the 64 soldiers who heroically sacrificed their lives in the battle to protect Gac Ma Island 37 years ago, telling a glorious historical story of indomitable heroism.

From afar, the Gac Ma Soldiers Monument stands out with a height of more than 15 m with the theme "Those who lie on the horizon". The center of the "immortal circle" is the soldiers holding hands forming a solid block determined to protect the national flag, which is to protect Vietnam's sovereignty at Gac Ma Island in 1988 from the enemy's bullets. The soldiers used their flesh to fight against the "bronze bullets", they fell so that the Fatherland could soar in the vast springs.

Reporters from several press agencies looked for information at the Wind Tomb and portraits of 64 soldiers who died at Gac Ma Island in 1988.

Right behind the monument cluster is the exhibition area, preserving artifacts of the martyrs of Gac Ma, the Peace Square area, the wind grave area of ​​64 martyrs at Gac Ma with full pictures, names, ages, addresses and 64 sea hibiscus flowers symbolizing the 64 Gac Ma soldiers living forever with the country.

The memorial site currently preserves 38 souvenirs of the 64 Gac Ma soldiers who died on March 14, 1988, such as the national flag, sandals, navy uniforms, rice bowls and historical images and portraits of the 64 martyrs. More special is the wedding photo of martyr Dinh Ngoc Doanh and his wife Do Thi Ha taken in 1986. Two years after the wedding, Doanh received a mission to work in Truong Sa and remained forever in the middle of the ocean. The photo was given to the memorial site by the martyr's wife. Or the last letter of martyr Nguyen Van Phuong written to his family on March 6, 1988 before boarding the ship to Gac Ma. The letter reads: From now on, I will not write home anymore, because I am busy with work and the post office is too far away. My family can rest assured, do not think too much about me and when I leave, there will be no return date...

How admirable that the soldiers, even though they knew they would die, accepted it with such a calm attitude. Because the reason they chose to live was the front line to fight for the Fatherland.

64 sea hibiscus flowers symbolize 64 martyrs of Gac Ma island who live forever with the country.

Visiting and offering incense at the memorial site that day, the reporters could not help but be moved and choked up by every detail and every story of the war on Gac Ma Island through the tour guide's introduction. Everyone silently listened and felt more deeply about the price of today's peace, independence and freedom that had to be exchanged for the blood of heroic martyrs, so that they would remind themselves to live better, to contribute more to the cause of building and protecting the Fatherland, worthy of their sacrifice!

Also during the visit and incense offering, I noticed a young man attentively reading each line of the names of the martyrs at the wind grave. This young man also used his phone to record images in the memorial area. Through research, I learned that he was Nguyen Dac Thanh, from Son La, visiting and burning incense at the memorial area for the first time. “Coming from the remote northern mountains, when I set foot here, I was very moved and admired the heroic sacrifice of 64 soldiers of Gac Ma to protect the sea and islands of the Fatherland. The footage I filmed here will be one of the documents to educate the revolutionary tradition to the union members and young people at the agency where I work,” Thanh confided.

Gac Ma Soldier Memorial Area has become a red address for educating revolutionary traditions for the young generation.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tra My, an officer of the Memorial Management Board, said that over the past 10 years, the unit has always carefully preserved the soldiers' relics. This place has become a red address for educating patriotic traditions for many generations, especially the young generation. From 2017 to now, the memorial has welcomed over 2,700 delegations with over 580,000 visitors. Since the beginning of 2024, 50 delegations have chosen the memorial as the place to hold ceremonies to admit party members and union members.

37 years ago, on March 14, 1988, at the forefront, with limited weapons, soldiers on three ships HQ604, HQ605, HQ505 and the forces protecting Gac Ma, Co Lin, and Len Dao islands showed their strong will, bravery, and determination to fight to the end to protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

After threatening but failing to shake the soldiers' spirit, the enemy warships used guns and cannons to fire directly at our ships, causing the HQ604 to catch fire and sink very quickly. At Gac Ma Island, the soldiers held hands tightly to form an immortal circle to protect the national flag, determined to defend the island despite the enemy's artillery shells pouring down on their bodies. They heroically sacrificed themselves, the thousand-year-old blue sea lulled them to sleep in an immortal, endless song.

The Gac Ma incident on March 14, 1988 has gone down in national history as a shining milestone of heroic spirit, determined to die for the Fatherland. Their blood has dyed the national flag redder and above all, they will live forever with the country.

Many party organizations of Khanh Hoa province choose Gac Ma Soldier Memorial Area to admit new party members.

In gratitude for the heroic sacrifice of the soldiers of Gac Ma, in 2015, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor started the construction of the Gac Ma Soldiers Memorial in Cam Hai Dong Commune, Cam Lam District, Khanh Hoa Province. The project completed phase 1 in 2017 with a total investment of more than 130 billion VND from contributions from union members and workers nationwide. So that today, every Vietnamese citizen, especially the young generation, has the opportunity to visit, offer incense at the memorial and live with the heroic historical events of the nation, seeing more clearly their role and responsibility towards their homeland and country.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/ban-giao-huong-ket-noi-qua-khu-hien-tai-tuong-lai-post400372.html