On a sunny and windy day at the end of May, on fishing boats anchored at Nhat Le fishing port (Phu Hai ward, Dong Hoi city), fishermen dressed neatly and happily welcomed the delegation of the "Youth with the sea and islands of the homeland" program to visit and encourage them. The fishermen received gifts of life jackets and national flags and hung the flags themselves in the highest and most solemn position on the boat. Looking at the national flag fluttering in the wind, Mr. Vo Thanh Vien, owner of QB 91273 boat, was moved: "The national flag on the boat is indispensable in every sea trip of our fishermen. Standing under the national flag always gives us a very sacred feeling. In the midst of the vast waves, the national flag is a spiritual motivation, adding faith and strength to overcome all difficulties and storms, reminding us to protect the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland".

For veteran Truong Van Can of the Unnumbered Train, residing in Nam Ly Ward (Dong Hoi City), he still cannot forget the happy moment when the delegation visited. According to the appointment in the afternoon, but from early morning, he and his wife had prepared their house neatly to welcome the guests. Wearing a veteran uniform with sparkling medals on his chest, holding hands and hugging Colonel Doan Xuan Buong, Deputy Political Commissar of Military Region 4, he was moved to tears: “I am so happy, so happy! I have been a Party member for 60 years, I don’t know how much longer I will live. Thank you to the Party, the State, the Army, thank you comrades for always remembering us”.

These are two of many meaningful activities of the program "Youth with the sea and islands of the homeland" organized by the Political Department of Military Region 4 in coordination with the Army Youth Union, Quang Binh Provincial Youth Union and agencies and units inside and outside the Army.

The organizing committee presented national flags and life jackets to fishermen at Nhat Le fishing port (Dong Hoi, Quang Binh).

According to Lieutenant Colonel Bui The Ky, Head of the Mass Affairs Department (Political Department of Military Region 4), Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee, the new feature of this program is its larger scale. In addition to attracting a large number of union members, youths and local people to participate, the program also received the attention of domestic and foreign guests. Not only stopping at the event location, the program expanded the gift-giving target to all localities in the whole province. Not only union members and youths, the program also attracted a large number of primary school students to participate, contributing to educating them about the love of the sea and islands through the "I love the sea and islands of my homeland" painting contest. The program also had the participation of all levels and sectors from the central to local levels, the responsible cooperation of organizations and individuals, creating a large resource, together towards the sea and islands; taking care of policy beneficiaries, meritorious people, people in difficult circumstances and social security in the area.

The program "Youth with the homeland's sea and islands" is a prominent activity in the annual "Sentimentality of the border, sea and islands" program series, directed by the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army, the Army Youth Committee in coordination with political agencies of units in the Army and localities nationwide to organize in remote, border and island areas, where people's lives still face many difficulties and deprivations.

This year's program took place with many contents, such as: Offering incense at the Temple of Uncle Ho and the heroic martyrs; visiting and giving gifts to families with preferential policies, families of fishermen in difficult circumstances, poor students who have overcome difficulties to study well; presenting national flags, life jackets, and life buoys to fishermen at sea; livelihood models for union members, youth and people; cleaning the marine environment; organizing the Painting Contest "I love the sea and islands of my homeland"; displaying the Exhibition "Sea, islands, the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland"; launching the 2023 Summer Youth Volunteer Campaign and a special art program performed by the Art Troupe of Military Region 4.

Through the program, more than 1.8 billion VND was raised to donate to 15 families of veterans of the Ships Without Numbers; 25 families of officers and soldiers on duty in Truong Sa archipelago, coast guard, and fisheries inspectors in difficult circumstances; 75 families of policy beneficiaries and families in difficult circumstances; donated toilets at schools, 1 "100 VND House", 2 "Happy Houses", 30 livelihood models, 2 savings books, 50 gifts, 10 bicycles and many other gifts.

As a co-organizer, Lieutenant Colonel Tran Huu Dung, Deputy Head of the Military Youth Department, emphasized: “Through this program, three main goals have been achieved. One is to raise awareness among young people in particular and the people in general about the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland. Two is to foster the love and affection for the sea and islands of the people and youth of the whole country. In particular, from raising awareness and fostering that sacred affection, it promotes in each person a clear understanding of their role and responsibility to take specific actions and deeds to contribute to protecting the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands."

Article and photos: HOANG THAI