Full of love between teachers and students on a remote island
Every year, the Navy creates conditions for press reporters to follow working groups to visit and work with soldiers and people on Truong Sa Island and DK-I Platform.
However, not everyone has the opportunity to participate in this special mission. When selected to go, each reporter must be mentally prepared to face many difficulties and challenges throughout the journey.
For editor Pham Hong Thinh - Education & Times Newspaper, when she received the order to go to Truong Sa, she understood that this was an extremely special trip in her journalistic career. Especially, the time on each island was only a few hours, so she always had to set the goal of working with focus and efficiency.
Journalist Hong Thinh talks with a teacher on Truong Sa Lon island.
The feeling when stepping on the HQ571 ship to Truong Sa, for journalist Hong Thinh, was excitement, nervousness and happiness. There were many surprises in meeting and getting to know the members of the group as well as experiencing the new living space.
"During this business trip, I met teachers and students on Song Tu Tay and Truong Sa Lon islands - although very rushed and hurried, it was always filled with emotion and love. In the sun and wind of the sea and islands, I heard the teachers talk about their passion for the ferry profession, including this very special journey. In each teacher's eyes, there was always a sparkle of optimism and happiness when talking about school and students," journalist Pham Hong Thinh shared.
Also from the attention of all levels and sectors, especially the education sector, schools in the islands are increasingly invested in facilities, ensuring good living conditions for teachers to work with peace of mind. The teachers' students are also very obedient and bright. Although, perhaps, the harsh climate on the island has a significant impact on metal school supplies, computers, etc., making teaching and learning more difficult, teachers and students always strive to overcome.
"Perhaps, on a remote island, there is a lack of family warmth, but in return, there is a common roof built with the love between the army and the people on the island, so teachers and students never stop laughing..." , journalist Hong Thinh smiled and said.
Along with those emotional stories, journalist Pham Hong Thinh was also impressed and admired when he met Dr. Dang Hoang Anh - Vice President of Vietnam Education Trade Union on Truong Sa Lon island.
Journalist Hong Thinh said: Ms. Hoang Anh is very active and extremely interested in supporting teaching equipment here, so she directly called the mainland to connect with the union of units: Hue University, National Economics University, Education Publishing House to join hands to support laptops, 53-inch TV screens and 2 sets of books for primary school teachers.
When the connection was successful, Ms. Hoang Anh happily announced the news and expressed: “Waiting for the teacher to return home on leave, we will connect to give him practical gifts. This is a gift that carries all the affection of teachers on the mainland for Truong Sa”…
Journalist Pham Hong Thinh was moved: "I feel truly happy when I am lucky enough to come directly to Truong Sa to join in the joy of teachers and students at the forefront - though far away, always close, always filled with sharing, connection, and love flowing from the blood of Lac Hong's descendants of Mother Vietnam!" .
Bringing Truong Sa closer to the mainland
The dream of going to Truong Sa has long been a desire of journalist Tran Chi Tuan - People's Representative Newspaper, so when he received the notice to go to Truong Sa, he was very excited and proud.
"Joining Working Group No. 6 in 2024 to Truong Sa, our first impression was the ship numbered 571 with the red flag with yellow star printed on the hull, a large and modern ship like a floating hotel, with the enthusiastic welcome and guidance of the crew members," journalist Chi Tuan shared.
Going to Truong Sa has long been a desire of journalist Tran Chi Tuan - People's Representative Newspaper.
What moved him the most was the Memorial Ceremony for the Heroes and Martyrs who sacrificed their lives on the Truong Sa archipelago, held right on the deck of the ship in the middle of the ocean. In the solemn atmosphere, the speech of the memorial delegation told the story of 64 Heroes and Martyrs who heroically sacrificed their lives to protect Gac Ma island in 1988, making most of the delegates unable to hold back their tears.
After the ceremony, each delegate held a paper crane and a flower, and together released them into the sea, hoping that the soldiers who heroically sacrificed their lives for the sea and islands would rest in eternal peace.
"This is the most impressive and touching thing for me and the members of the delegation," journalist Chi Tuan recalled.
The honor of attending the flag-raising ceremony, singing the National Anthem and listening to the soldiers recite the 10 honorary oaths of the soldiers on Truong Sa island was extremely touching and sacred, and also left a deep impression in the mind of journalist Chi Tuan. Each oath affirmed the will and strength of the Vietnam People's Army determined to protect the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.
Returning to the mainland, journalist Chi Tuan still misses Truong Sa a lot, remembers the restlessness and joy of the island soldiers when welcoming the delegation from the mainland to visit; remembers the people with dark skin due to the sun, wind, and rain but very brave and defiant in the middle of the ocean; remembers the steadfast shouts of "I swear" at the flag-raising ceremonies on the island...
For journalist Chi Tuan, the days working in Truong Sa are unforgettable memories in his career as a journalist, both to expand his personal experience and to gain more documents and better understand the work of protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands, bringing remote islands closer to the mainland.
In difficult conditions due to sunny and windy conditions, urgent time, and tight work schedules, journalist Chi Tuan shared that in order to work effectively, it is necessary to prepare carefully from the mainland about the itinerary and destinations. It is necessary to identify topics of interest, observe the people you plan to interview, and take advantage of all time and conditions to collect materials for your work.
The biggest regret of journalist Chi Tuan and the working group when participating in this voyage is that due to weather conditions and to ensure safety, the members of the working group could not go directly to the DK-I Platform to meet in person and hand over meaningful and practical gifts filled with the warm feelings of the mainland, but had to visit and encourage the officers and soldiers of the Platform through the VFF system.
"The DK-I platform stands alone in the middle of the vast ocean, facing rough seas and strong winds that seem to want to "swallow" it, but the soldiers still stick there to ensure the absolute safety of the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the homeland - an image of great resilience, indomitability and pride," journalist Chi Tuan expressed.
Looking back at the stormy voyage but full of military-civilian affection, love for compatriots and comrades, journalist Chi Tuan was moved, after the journey through 6 islands and DK-I Platform, each place left beautiful images with many surging emotions. Remembering the feeling of rocking on the ship; remembering the care and support of the Navy in giving priority to journalists on the first boat trip to the islands; remembering the people with skin darkened by the sun and wind but very affectionate, warm, and united; remembering the shouts of "Truong Sa for the Fatherland, the Fatherland for Truong Sa".
Among the journalists and reporters participating in Working Group No. 6, this is the third time journalist Manh Nghinh - News Department, Thai Nguyen Radio and Television Station has come to Truong Sa archipelago.
Journalist Manh Nghinh in a photo with Chairman of Thai Nguyen Provincial People's Committee - Trinh Viet Hung in Truong Sa.
He shared that although he has been to Truong Sa many times, each time he has different feelings. Every time he returns to Truong Sa, he feels the change, the change in the landscape on the island, the houses are more solid and spacious, the trees are green despite the harsh nature.
But one thing that has not changed is the affection and closeness of the islanders and soldiers towards everyone when visiting Truong Sa archipelago, the determination and resilience of Truong Sa soldiers who are always steadfast at the forefront of the waves and winds... to firmly maintain the sovereignty of every inch of land and sea - the sacred flesh and blood of the Fatherland.
The most unforgettable memories for journalist Manh Nghinh were the days of big waves, the officers and soldiers on the ship were also seasick but still tried to support the reporters as best as possible, especially the transportation from the ship by CQ boat to the islands, big waves, wet clothes but still tried to hold the camera, the camera was carefully wrapped in plastic bags to help the journalists to have realistic images, bringing Truong Sa closer to the mainland.
"Every time I return to Truong Sa, the landscape on the island, the houses are more solid and spacious, the trees are green despite the harsh nature. But one thing that has not changed is the affection and closeness of the soldiers and people on the island towards everyone when visiting Truong Sa archipelago..." journalist Manh Nghinh shared.
"I still remember, during a business trip to Truong Sa in 2022, a soldier was willing to hold onto a rope on a boat to try to hold a camera for a journalist, a very touching image," journalist Manh Nghinh recalled.
During the business trips to Truong Sa, each journalist felt more mature. Working on the island, the weather conditions were complicated, there were big waves and strong winds, seasickness, a short time, many attractive topics, although tiring, everyone wanted to do as much as possible to bring Truong Sa closer and more vividly to the audience.
"Although it is hard, compared to the difficulties and challenges that the soldiers and people on the island have to go through, it is nothing, so everyone has the same thought that we have to try even harder...", Mr. Manh Nghinh shared.
It can be said that working in Truong Sa - the sacred sea and islands of the Fatherland is always a source of pride for every writer. In the future, there will be many more reporters following the ships sailing out to the sea. These trips will produce many valuable journalistic works to bring the breath of the homeland's sea and islands closer to the mainland...
Hoang Anh
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