70 years have passed, but the memories and nostalgia of the days of living and studying in Southern schools in the North are forever the priceless "spiritual assets" that Southern students cherish and respect in every step of their lives. And then today, in the small house of teacher Le Ngoc Lap's family (Bui Thi Xuan Street, Ngoc Trao Ward, Thanh Hoa City), both teacher and student met again with tears of emotion.
1. Upon receiving the news that Thanh Hoa province would hold a ceremony to celebrate the 70th anniversary of welcoming compatriots, cadres, soldiers and students from the South to the North, veteran Do Thanh Lap (from Hau Giang province, currently living in Ho Chi Minh City) was so moved that he choked up. Without thinking too much, the veteran immediately packed a few simple belongings in a worn backpack, started his old motorbike with two rear wheels and a small canopy, and set off for Thanh Hoa.
The veteran with a small but strong body and determined eyes made a 9-day journey from Ho Chi Minh City to Thanh Hoa. During that time, he visited a few places that marked his journey to the North. Besides sleeping and stopping to eat and drink to “recharge”, he drove continuously. When asked: “What motivated you to make this trip?”, Mr. Lap laughed heartily and replied: “There is nothing greater than love, gratitude for the land and people of Thanh Hoa and the promise to meet with classmates from the Southern school that I attended at our homeroom teacher’s house”.
Veteran Do Thanh Lap (from Hau Giang province, currently living in Ho Chi Minh City) made a 9-day journey from the South to Thanh Hoa on an old motorbike.
In a green military uniform with a red chest and the Vietnam Veterans badge, Mr. Lap enthusiastically recounted his trip back to Thanh: “This is not the first time I have returned to Thanh. Before that, I had returned to this place several times, a place that marked an important milestone, preserving many special, unforgettable memories in my life. In particular, Thanh is where I have always lived and deeply remembered the care and sharing of the people here towards the compatriots, cadres, soldiers and students from the South who gathered in the North 70 years ago, including me, a 9-year-old child, and my 11-year-old sister. And I respect and am grateful to Mr. Le Ngoc Lap for his wholehearted care and teaching as if I were his own child when I was studying at the Southern Student School No. 1 in Dong Trieu (Quang Ninh)”.
Veteran Do Thanh Lap (in uniform, sitting on the far left) reunites with teacher Le Ngoc Lap (in pink shirt) and classmates at Dong Trieu Southern Student School No. 1 (Quang Ninh).
On a cold early winter morning, the old veteran musician's confidences warmed the atmosphere at the small tea table. He recalled the scene of Hoi port on the day the ship docked; the stories of the days living with a farmer's family in a district near Thanh Hoa town. "Oh, those days were full of hardship and deprivation, but the people here still took care of us little by little. Yet when we wanted to share our rice with the children, the women and mothers did not agree. They were afraid that we would not have enough to eat, while our fellow countrymen only had vegetables and porridge to get through the day" - Mr. Lap's voice choked, his eyes filled with tears. The students from the South who gathered in the North only stayed in Sam Son for a while, then spread out to all localities in the North, spending their days studying and training in special schools.
Oh, the days were full of hardship and deprivation, but the people here still took care of us little by little. Yet when we wanted to share our food with the children, the mothers and grandmothers did not agree...
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z1XzK4yh74[/embed]
The veteran's memory and endurance made us, the "tailgating" guests, truly admire him. The motorbike with the license plate starting with 95, designed with a canopy, with a fluttering red flag in front, was driven by a veteran nearly 80 years old, traveling from the North to the South for 9 days, to meet his teacher and classmates again, making anyone who understood the story moved. The regrouping trains erased the dividing line, geographical distance, and connected hearts. After 70 years, Thanh Hoa is honored and proud to witness the reunions of hearts beating together, sharing the same faith and love.
A motorbike with the license plate number starting with 95, designed with a canopy, and a red flag flying in the front, was driven by a nearly 80-year-old veteran on a 9-day journey from North to South to see his teacher and classmates again... |
2. When Mr. Lap arrived, his friends had gathered at the house of teacher Le Ngoc Lap. Teacher Lap smiled brightly, chatting with his student whom he had not seen for many years. From the crowd, a voice echoed: "Our friend Do Thanh Lap has arrived!". Handshakes and greetings, the small living room was filled with voices and laughter. Perhaps, because they always looked towards each other, always had each other in their memories, so although teachers and students were "out of sight" they were not "out of mind", meeting each other was not at all formal or awkward.
“Life is like a shadow outside the window”, just yesterday the students from the South gathered in the North with so much confusion, immaturity like young birds away from the warmth of their parents for the first time. Yet now, sitting next to Mr. Lap are heads with silver threads. The students who were taken care of by him with every meal, sleep, and homework day and night have all grown up. The “red seeds” that he devoted all his heart and mind to nurturing and nurturing have become diplomats, intellectuals, engineers, teachers, veterans, musicians... contributing their efforts to build their homeland and country.
We teachers and students always live in good memories, in the loyalty of teachers and students, remembering the source of water we drink.
Class 10A, Dong Trieu Southern Student School No. 1 at that time had more than 40 students, both boys and girls. Teacher Le Ngoc Lap confided: “Although the students are still young and have to leave their families to go to a far away land, they are very obedient, very conscious of studying and striving. The clearest proof is their success today. I am very happy and proud of that. What is even more touching is that despite the distance and few opportunities to meet, the students always turn to each other, always remembering that in Thanh Hoa there is still a teacher who taught and accompanied them. Many students who have the opportunity to go to Thanh Hoa do not forget to visit their teacher or call to inform them of the situation. They also often call to chat and ask about their teacher's health. We teachers and students always live in good memories, in the loyalty of teachers and students, drinking water remembering the source”.
70 years have passed, the greatest happiness is that teachers and students of Dong Trieu Southern Student School No. 1 at that time were able to sit together and recall memories.
The passage of time may have made Mr. Lap’s health not as good as before, and may have turned his green hair gray, but the most precious thing is that all the students of class 10A (1965-1966) at that time always kept the best memories of each other. Mr. Tran Quoc Be, 79 years old, class monitor of class 10A, recalled the most passionate years of his youth: “Those were difficult days, lacking in all aspects, but everyone was determined to study and practice well so as not to disappoint the care and support of the Party, Uncle Ho and the dedication of the teachers in the school”.
“Throughout the difficult days and hardships, everyone was determined to study and train well so as not to disappoint the care and support of the Party, Uncle Ho, and the dedication of the teachers in the school.
Mr. Be will always remember in his heart the image of Mr. Lap who closely watched, cared for, followed, and devoted himself to his students like his own children. He was not only a teacher in class but also a person who guided and guided every little thing in life. “Until today, we still feel grateful for the precious things we received. More than a teacher or a father, it was Mr. Lap who guided and oriented me to have the will and effort to strive to join the Party and was honored to be in the Party ranks since I was a high school student. I cannot express that gratitude in words,” Mr. Be shared.
Teacher Le Ngoc Lap - who has been associated with the Southern Student School in the North for about 20 years.
It was past noon, the story of the event 70 years ago was interrupted by urgent schedules and work. Some people, not wanting to miss the reunion with their friends and homeroom teachers, temporarily put aside their unfinished work and flew to Thanh Hoa. Now "satisfied", they hurriedly went to the airport to return to the South. The rest, everyone was excited and eager to prepare to go to Sam Son in the afternoon to attend the elaborate and grandiose celebration right at the Memorial Site of the Southern compatriots, cadres and soldiers who gathered in the North. Mr. Do Thanh Lap confided: "Seeing the news and pictures of the memorial site and the activities preparing for the celebration through the press so many times, I feel more moved and enthusiastic. It is truly precious that 70 years later, once again, Thanh Hoa welcomed us in such a solemn and warm reunion."
Teacher Le Ngoc Lap was honored to receive a Certificate of Merit from President Ho Chi Minh.
This life is meetings and separations. Separation is the reason for the day of reunion. When witnessing with our own eyes, listening with our own ears to the sharing, confiding full of affection, love of teacher Le Ngoc Lap with his students and the beautiful memories, memories of the North - South relationship in that turbulent historical period, each of us is more deeply imbued with the meaning, the profound human value of organizing the celebration with the presence of the memorial area, the symbol of the ship gathering on the land and sea of Sam Son.
Rosemary - Hoang Son
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/cuoc-hoi-ngo-cua-nhung-yeu-thuong-228778.htm
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