Bring them back to their homeland, to the love of their hometown.

“The war is long over, but every day on mass media and social networks, hundreds of families of fallen soldiers still post messages searching for the graves of their loved ones. Many families don't know where to begin searching for information about their loved ones' sacrifices, because the death certificate only briefly states: Unit of sacrifice: KN, KB, KHP; buried at the Front Cemetery… There are countless difficulties and shortcomings in the process of finding the graves of fallen soldiers and correcting information to restore their names…” This is the heartfelt concern of Colonel Pham Quyet Chien - Chairman of the Association for Supporting Families of Fallen Soldiers (HTGĐLS) of the province, who empathizes with the feelings of the families of fallen soldiers in the province, who are still tormented day and night, longing to bring their loved ones back to their homeland…

Forty-five years after his sacrifice, martyr Dương Văn Hồng from Đào Xá commune, Thanh Thủy district, has been brought back to his hometown cemetery for burial.

During the wars of resistance to defend the Fatherland, a large number of outstanding sons and daughters of the homeland enlisted in the army, directly taking up arms and serving in combat on battlefields across the country. Nearly 18,000 of them bravely sacrificed their lives. A prime example is the case of martyr Pham Van Phan, born in 1951 in Zone 8, Thanh Uyen commune, Tam Nong district. In 1969, answering the sacred call of the Fatherland, he volunteered to enlist and was assigned to unit D5, K5.

In 1971, during a campaign on the Southern Front, he bravely sacrificed his life and was subsequently buried at the Truong Son National Martyrs' Cemetery in Quang Tri province. More than 50 years after his death, with the assistance of the Departments of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Phu Tho and Quang Tri provinces, Tam Nong district, and the direct support of the Thanh Thuy and Tam Nong branches of the Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs, the remains of Martyr Pham Van Phan were brought back to his hometown cemetery for reburial, fulfilling the family's wish.

In the small room of the Provincial Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs in Nong Trang Ward, Viet Tri City, the month of July feels "hotter" than usual as it welcomes many relatives of martyrs seeking advice and support. Having served 40 years in the military, participating in three wars of national liberation and defense, and witnessing countless comrades fall, Colonel Pham Quyet Chien understands better than anyone the loss and pain that the families of martyrs must endure.

Pouring a cup of water for his guest, the 70-year-old army colonel said with a heavy heart: "During my nearly 12-year journey of volunteering to find comrades and restore the identities of fallen soldiers, I was deeply moved and choked up by the sight of a mother over 90 years old, leaning on a cane, coming to receive her son's remains with a choked sob: 'My son! Why, after more than 50 long years, have you finally come home to me?'"

The night before the funeral and burial, a mother held her son's remains all night, unable to sleep. So many fathers and mothers, before passing away, carry the nagging worry of not knowing where their child's grave is so they can bring it home... This makes me and those involved in charitable work, and the various levels of the Association, even more concerned."

In fact, recently, some relatives of fallen soldiers who came to the Provincial Association for Supporting Families of Fallen Soldiers to request certificates confirming the place of sacrifice of their loved ones have been unable to obtain further information about the fallen soldiers because many military units have not yet deciphered military symbols and unit designations. Many families hope for identification through DNA testing, however, the remains of the fallen soldiers have decomposed over the years. There are also many families who have waited for years without receiving notification of the test results from the authorities...

Although the work of advising, supporting, and assisting the relatives and families of martyrs in the province in searching for, correcting information, and relocating the remains of martyrs faces many difficulties and obstacles, many district-level branches of the Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs have actively connected with functional agencies inside and outside the province to bring the remains of martyrs back to their hometowns.

Representatives of the Thanh Thuy District Branch of the Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs handed over the remains of martyr Pham Van Phan in Thanh Uyen commune, Tam Nong district, to his relatives and family.

In the first six months of 2024 alone, the Provincial Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs provided direct consultation and support to 56 families of martyrs on the following issues: searching for information about martyrs, confirming information about the place where martyrs died, correcting information about martyrs, visiting and relocating the remains of martyrs... The Association completed DNA testing procedures for 5 cases. The Association also coordinated with the Provincial Military Command to confirm information about the place where martyrs died for 44 cases and amend and supplement information in martyr records for 18 cases; correcting information on tombstones and records for 31 cases.

The Association coordinated with the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to advise and support families in relocating the remains of 36 martyrs back to their hometowns for burial. In addition, the Association at all levels supported the construction of 3 houses of gratitude with a total value of 680 million VND and visited and presented nearly 400 gifts to relatives and families of martyrs and meritorious individuals in the province.

To further improve the work of honoring martyrs and those who have contributed to the revolution, in the coming time, the Provincial Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs will continue to promote the compilation of lists of martyrs with missing or inaccurate information on tombstones compared to management records, in order to work with relevant agencies to verify and restore the identities of martyrs, contributing to alleviating the pain and loss of martyrs' relatives.

Hong Nhung

Source: https://baophutho.vn/dua-cac-anh-tro-ve-dat-me-tinh-que-215744.htm