The resistance war against the US to save the country ended when I was nineteen years old. I will never forget that historic noon of April 30, 1975, when the Voice of Vietnam radio reported that the Liberation flag was flying over the Independence Palace. We, the young soldiers, shouted until our voices were hoarse, “The South is liberated! The war is over!” Twenty-one years of protracted fighting, a lot of blood and sweat of this nation had been shed to have such a glorious day.
Quang Tri ancient citadel seen from above - Photo: HOANG TAO
I cried because of the overwhelming emotion. I cried when I thought about how on the day of great victory, many soldiers and civilians did not return. Perhaps that is why, ten years later, when there was a certain distance, the nation calmly looked back at the gains and losses from the war to know how to suppress the echoes of victory and aim for a higher goal of harmony and reconciliation, I wrote the poem "White Lily" as a sketch of the dream of reunion, the desire for peace...
The soldiers returned to make their mothers a spicy betel leaf/the dream of their mothers was red with blood/the soldiers returned to spread their hands over the smoky stove/the dream of their mothers bearing shiny rice seeds/the soldiers returned to clear the straw/the dream of their mothers flying was a stream of white milk/the soldiers returned to laugh shyly/the dream of people waking up with cries...
Also a soldier in the final stages of the war against America, I did not have the happiness of eating dinner with my comrades at the Independence Palace to look up at the vast Saigon sky and feel the deep sadness of freedom, so green and so immense (poem by Huu Thinh), but I was also heavy-hearted when thinking about the price this nation had to pay for peace.
Come to Quang Tri one day. The narrow strip of land of the Central region, both sunny and rainy, is impressive, but perhaps more impressive are the traces of war. The memories of war and the desire for peace are evident here in every mountain and river, in every familiar place name from the banks of Hien Luong, Ben Hai to Thanh Co, Cua Viet, Cam Lo, Khe Sanh... and the Truong Son National Martyrs' Cemetery, Road 9. Con Co, the steel island - the pearl island are also worth mentioning.
Because we are not allowed to forget, we have mentioned those names many times as a never-ending gratitude. Memories of the country's tragic years in the 20th century cannot be separated from Quang Tri.
That sacredness has been partly explained by the Peace Festival held in Quang Tri in July 2024. It cannot be said otherwise, peace is the greatest happiness of a nation, of humanity and that is the aspiration of all time, of all people. Just remember, remember for a long time a verse of Pham Tien Duat: It is better to eat salt all your life/ Than to have enemies.
That verse carries the aspiration for the nation and humanity, and is extremely simple because it is the plain words of a Vietnamese mother. I always think of that saying as a philosophy of life that emerges from the muddy ground, from the sun and wind, from the noise of storms and from devastation and destruction.
The devastation and desolation were nothing like the Quang Tri Citadel after the brutal war. Those 81 days and nights have been featured in many literary and artistic works. Hearing the news, the Army Cinema is preparing the set for a big project called Red Rain.
I also mentioned the adjective red in a poem about the Citadel. The moss is as red as it was once blood... The rain in the Citadel is also red because it is stained with a lot of human blood. I think that the Citadel in particular and Quang Tri in general are worthy, very worthy of great cultural projects. The goal of those projects is none other than the aspiration for peace of the nation and humanity.
Visit the Hien Luong-Ben Hai National Special Relic Site - Photo: HNK
Half a century has passed, full of meaning, and the lessons of building and defending the country of the descendants of King Hung have been added. After the glorious triumphal song from the peak of victory on April 30, 1975, the country entered a period of ups and downs, had to go through difficult situations, at times it seemed like everything was about to be lost. To be honest, sometimes in the midst of the storms of life, in the darkness of human relationships, in the midst of countless changes, I thought about the "uselessness" of generations of sacrifices and contributions.
But fortunately, our nation has a vanguard Party that dares to look straight at the truth to separate the bad from the good, to firmly steer the country out of dangerous situations, step by step rising to reap many important achievements. And, like a historical appointment, spring 2025 is the beginning of a new era - the era of the Vietnamese nation's rise.
As General Secretary To Lam emphasized, this is the era of development, the era of prosperity, the era of prosperity under the leadership of the Communist Party, successfully building a socialist Vietnam, a rich people, a strong country, democracy, fairness, and civilization.
All people have a prosperous and happy life, are supported to develop and enrich themselves; contribute more and more to peace, stability and development of the region and the world, to the happiness of humanity and this global civilization enters a new era - the era of strong growth of Vietnam.
The happiness of our nation today is that we have chosen the right path. That is the path to liberate the country from the invasion of colonialism and imperialism to gain independence, freedom, peace and national unity. That is the determination to successfully build socialism and firmly protect the beloved Vietnamese Fatherland. There is no other path to lead the country to a bright future other than the path our Party and Uncle Ho have chosen.
History has, is, and will prove that correctness. However, the destination is still far away and the path the nation continues to take is still full of difficulties, challenges, and obstacles. Here, the most important thing to mention is still the long-term vision, knowing how to pacify the people with humanity, maintain peace with wise flexibility, and adapt to all changes with the unchanging is still a lesson that never gets old.
We are inheriting and inheriting the traditional cultural values that our ancestors left behind. Although humanity is no longer the same as before when the 4th Industrial Revolution became a reality. The world has become "super flat" but religious, ethnic, territorial conflicts... still exist. Wars still occur here and there with greater dangers lurking even though humanity has entered the 21st century for more than two decades. As the legend goes, with the support of technology, the connection of all things, global connection is no longer a pipe dream, but the risk of war and the desire for peace of humanity are still intact. Understanding each other will be a good opportunity for peoples to live together in harmony. Speaking of this, the words "if only" suddenly arise in me...
If only those who set foot on Vietnam's expeditions knew about this nation's culture of building and defending the country, there would certainly not have been the world-shaking confrontations we know.
What can we do when history does not contain the two lyrical and humane words “if only”. But it must be said again, in the words of the great poet Nguyen Du in the Tale of Kieu: Heaven has allowed us to have this day/The mist at the end of the lane has cleared, the clouds in the sky have parted... The mist has cleared, the clouds have parted, the vast blue sky appears. The opponent has become a strategic and comprehensive partner.
We are happy and joyful because we have more friendly eyes and smiles. We understand more that, loving will give us more. We will all win when we know how to put our trust in each other.
The 50th spring after the climax of April 30, 1975 will be a spring of faith and hope. Trust and hope in the good things that are coming, will come to our country. New movements in building and defending the Fatherland, in international relations will certainly bring many good things to the Vietnamese people.
Spring sap is spreading to the green buds of trees and plants, peach and apricot buds from the border to the islands, from ancient villages and towns to the villages that have revived after the super storm like Nu village. Everything is blooming with the colors and scents of spring in a life that is not yet rich or prosperous but very peaceful.
Through storms we will appreciate calm seas more, through war we will appreciate peace more. The song after war is peace. Let every peaceful spring forever be the first spring named Happiness!
Essays by Nguyen Huu Quy
Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/khai-hoan-ca-sau-chien-tranh-191353.htm
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