To the soldiers of Truong Sa!
The mainland where I live this season has golden sunshine on every tiled roof, cool breeze caressing every soul. How is the weather in Truong Sa, guys? It must be sunny and windy all year round.
I love the young men who drink wind and eat dew all year round, holding guns firmly to guard every inch of land on the shore and under the sea, every sacred blue sky of the Fatherland. I love the men in their twenties who are living in the harsh and stormy land, suffering many deprivations. I love the loyal navy soldiers, faithfully befriending the island, being children of the sea all year round.
You - the Truong Sa soldiers - shoulder the important mission of keeping our homeland's sea and islands peaceful, keeping our land and sky sovereign, and allowing everyone to sleep soundly. You are heroes in everyone's hearts.
Watching on TV, I see that Truong Sa now has spacious houses; solar power for daily activities, telephone connections; clean concrete roads stretching along the shade of green trees; schools for children to learn. More and more practical constructions are springing up, such as: Uncle Ho Memorial Area, Tran Hung Dao Monument Park, and infirmary for everyone to treat illnesses.
I also know that you guys are not only good at guard duty but also grow squash, pumpkins, and green vegetables no less than farmers. The green color dyes the whole garden, the big and small fruits hanging on the trellis tell the rear that the island soldiers are very good. To get the results of your labor like that, you guys collect fallen leaves from the maple tree and the square banyan tree, compost them, and fertilize them so that the squash, pumpkins, and green vegetables have nutrients to grow quickly and look beautiful. You guys have to monitor the weather to cover the vegetable garden in the right direction of the wind.
Few people know how they save every drop of fresh water. The vast ocean is full of salt, sometimes they have to collect rainwater to store, but somehow, they protect the vegetable pots and squash trellis from the harsh weather, creating meals with enough green vegetables to satisfy the craving for these rustic "specialties".
The flag-raising ceremony at Truong Sa Island now not only has soldiers on duty but also households. People come here as if they want to share the breath of the sea, together with the soldiers to contribute a small part to preserve their homeland and beloved Fatherland. With the spirit of "the island is home, the sea is homeland", building Truong Sa "strong in defense, good in lifestyle, beautiful in landscape and environment and exemplary in military-civilian relations", on each island here, the military-civilian affection is so warm. Soldiers and people protect the island together, work together, love life together, creating a song of love.
In 2021, storm No. 9 swept through, causing a lot of damage to Song Tu Tay. But then, with the spirit of solidarity and the strong vitality of people who never give up, everything was soon overcome after the storm passed. Solar power brought light to every home, the telephone network was covered again, connecting information to the mainland. Life was bustling again, happy life.
The people are strong, the trees are also strong. It seems that the harshness of nature has created a strong, steadfast strength from the brave shoulders to the fallen tree trunks. The maple trees and storm trees that were burned by the waves and had their leaves fall off still continued their life cycle with new shoots growing up and soon covering the sea and sky with green. The lush ecosystem that brings fresh air is a symbol of faith and strong vitality on the island. The affection of the mainland sent to the place where the waves and winds blow is always deep. From the kind ships that give trees, Truong Sa becomes greener and more beautiful. Surely you understand and appreciate the heart of the rear.
New rhythm of life on the islands of Truong Sa In the near future, if Truong Sa becomes the center of the country's marine economy, this island district will surely be even happier. At that time, each tour will follow one another to visit beloved Truong Sa. That dream is not far away!
I know that the geographical distance always makes the children here wish to hear more laughter from the rear. Because the children's lives are familiar with the alarm clock, the uniform shouts of the soldiers, as well as the clear blue sea, white sand beaches, and purple-flowered morning glory plants. The children want to hear someone tell more stories about the mainland. The mainland has big houses, great playgrounds, and many other big things. Those flashy material things are strange to the children of the remote islands.
But that’s okay! One day, the children will be able to go to the mainland to continue their secondary schooling. So the opportunity to explore the vibrant life will come. But no matter how much fun the mainland is, I don’t think it can compare to living on an island.
The island may not be materially rich, but it is spiritually rich. Children can play freely in the fresh air with friends under the square and wind-blown banyan trees or with toys made from seashells and snail shells. They can watch performances by soldiers. Moreover, they have very simple and happy families.
I imagine a home where the children go to school every day, their father goes to work as a militia, and the mother stays home to take care of everything. In the evening, the whole family gathers to eat a delicious meal. A life without hustle and bustle and traps, but only happiness and loyalty. Surely deep in their hearts, filled with the excitement of youth, they only wish for that kind of life in the future.
But I know that before dreaming for yourself, you must complete well the tasks assigned by your superiors. More than anyone else, you are aware that this sky and sea exists until today thanks to the efforts of many previous generations. Among them, the most heroic is the heroic sacrifice of 64 soldiers on Gac Ma Island years ago. There is still the image of Armed Forces Hero Tran Van Phuong holding the flagpole tightly as if holding the sacred motherland until his last breath. There is still his shout: "We would rather sacrifice than lose the island. Let our blood color the traditional flag of the heroic Vietnam Navy". Recalling history to see how high a price we have to pay to live in peace.
Brothers, our country and islands are so beautiful! This is the priceless asset of the whole nation. This is sacred and proud. I wish I could become a seabird, freely spread my wings to fly high in the sky, looking down to admire the ocean and coastline of our Fatherland. I wish I could visit Truong Sa one day. When tourism develops, maybe I will have the opportunity. My heart always overflows with special love for Truong Sa and you.
Tomorrow, the sun will rise again in the East. Back home, I will welcome the glorious dawn. Far away, you must also greet the new day full of vitality. At that moment, who knows, you may receive the spiritual gift of my letter.
The letter sends thousands of loving words, thousands of smiles. Sends a little bit of love from the rear to the front line of Truong Sa.
I also send this letter with love to the fishermen. Perhaps every time the fishermen go to the island, they bring with them joy and boats full of fish and shrimp. Mother Sea has graciously given us many products to feed people, contributing to the economic development of the country. That is a great motivation to lift the spirit of the fishermen to confidently go out to sea, both to earn a living and to protect the sacred border with the army and people on the island, affirming consistently that this is the legitimate sovereignty of Vietnam. Because only in the place under our ownership, the colorful national flag can proudly fly on fishing boats in the Truong Sa sea area.
I believe that the connection between the beloved front and the rear through the program "Proud of the National Flag" will spread even more widely, so that the faded flags on ships and boats can be completely replaced, painting a vivid picture: The whole forest of national flags fluttering to greet the homeland from far away.
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