Every year, after Tet, Hai Son commune, Mong Cai city (Quang Ninh) welcomes a convoy of vehicles carrying veterans, students... to offer incense at the Po Hen Heroic Martyrs Monument.
Continuing the tradition of his father and brother
More than 43 years ago, on February 17, 1979, a fierce battle took place in Po Hen. 73 Vietnamese people remained here forever to protect the integrity of the national border.
Many delegations of cadres and students regularly come to offer incense at the Po Hen Martyrs' Memorial.
They were 45 officers and soldiers of Border Post 209 (now Po Hen Border Post), a female officer of Hai Ninh's commercial sector - Ms. Hoang Thi Hong Chiem and 27 officers and youth volunteers of Hai Son Forestry Farm.
During the period 1979-1990, 13 more Po Hen border guards and soldiers died while on border patrol duty. All 86 heroic martyrs were brought back to be remembered at the Po Hen Martyrs Memorial.
Today, on the old barracks of the Po Hen Border Post, a memorial has been built in the Po Hen Historical Site complex to commemorate the fallen soldiers and civilians here.
The memorial area was built in 2018, covering an area of 86,000m2, including the following items: Memorial, incense burner, 2 stele houses, 2 stone steles, memorial house, garden, traffic, trees. In which, the Memorial item is 16m high, stone-clad, facing North, designed in the architectural image of 3 hands clasped together holding a yellow star, symbolizing the 3 ethnic groups Kinh, Tay, San Chi together protecting the border of the Fatherland.
Coming to offer incense and commemorate the heroic martyrs, many delegations also gave gifts to students in Hai Son commune, Mong Cai city with good academic achievements.
Late afternoon of a day in mid-February, coming to burn incense at the Po Hen Martyrs' Memorial, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Quoc Nam, Chief of Po Hen Border Guard Station, emotionally shared: With a long history of exploits and achievements, the Station has twice received the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces.
Continuing the tradition of their predecessors, the generations of cadres and soldiers of the unit always unite with the government and people of all ethnic groups in Hai Son commune, overcome all difficulties, build this place into a prosperous residential area, together firmly protect the sovereignty and security of the national border to be worthy of the sacrifice of their ancestors.
"In particular, in recent times, the unit has advised on the effective implementation of the village-to-village twinning program between residents on both sides of the border, thereby working together to build a peaceful, friendly, cooperative border for mutual development," said Lieutenant Colonel Nam.
The story of the fallen in the memory of the veteran
Sitting in his family's spacious house in Khe Su village, Thuong Yen Cong commune, Uong Bi city, veteran Truong Van Don, 73 years old, emotionally recounted: Before the war broke out, Mr. Don and his teammates were assigned to Bac Phong Sinh border station under the People's Armed Police Station 209 (now Po Hen Border Station), located about ten kilometers from the station headquarters.
Veteran Truong Van Don, 73 years old, emotionally recounted his memories of his time in Po Hen.
At dawn on February 17, while Mr. Don and his teammates were on duty at the station, they suddenly heard artillery fire at the unit's location. At the same time, loud explosions echoed from the station headquarters.
Mr. Don and his teammates quickly moved into combat positions, but seeing no enemy approaching, the entire working group moved to the rear.
Wiping away the tears running down his wrinkled cheeks, Mr. Don choked up and continued: "We endured hunger and thirst as we crawled through the forest to find our unit. When we reached the high hill behind the post and looked back, we saw our unit was torn apart by bullets.
At this time, at the station area, the enemy troops were lining up and preparing to retreat to the other side. Therefore, we had to hide in the forest and wait for the forces behind to come to our aid."
When hearing about the development and prosperity of Po Hen valley today, Mr. Don said: Nearly ten years ago, when he was still healthy, he often went to burn incense for his comrades. But in the past few years, he suffered a stroke and had difficulty walking, so he has not had the opportunity to return.
"Watching TV and newspapers, seeing the life of Po Hen Border Post and the people there become more stable and developed, the Po Hen historical relic is invested in and decorated, people often come to offer incense, we are very moved.
Our comrades will surely smile in their graves because their sacrifices will always be remembered by the Fatherland and the people," Mr. Don emotionally shared.
Traffic connection, construction of Po Hen
Sitting in his office at the spacious headquarters, Mr. Ninh Van Sang, Chairman of the People's Committee of Hai Son commune, said that as one of the most remote mountainous communes of Mong Cai city, over 90% of the commune's population is ethnic minorities.
National Highway 18C through the center of Hai Son commune was put into use in early September 2023, opening a new page for this place to move forward with the lowlands.
Due to the specific characteristics of the area and the limited farming practices of the people, especially the traffic infrastructure which was at times very remote, the people's lives still mainly depend on self-sufficiency, so their income is very low, the majority of poor households...
And then, all of Hai Son's difficulties and obstacles were resolved when connecting traffic projects and works were continuously invested in.
The greatest momentum for this historical borderland will truly be opened when National Highway 18C from the center of Mong Cai City through the area is invested, upgraded and put into use from the beginning of September 2023.
The commune chairman said that phase 1 of the project to renovate and upgrade National Highway 18 was implemented, extending from Bac Phong Sinh border gate (Hai Ha district) to National Highway 18B with a route length of 6.6km, with a total investment of more than 77 billion VND and put into operation from 2020. However, the route from the commune center to Mong Cai city is still narrow, with many steep slopes, deep ravines and degradation.
Therefore, phase 2 of the project connecting Mong Cai Border Gate Economic Zone to Bac Phong Sinh Border Gate Economic Zone through the center of Hai Son commune has been implemented since July 2021 with a total route length of 13.83km. This is a level III traffic project, designed speed of 60km/h, roadbed width of 9m, road surface of 6m, total investment capital of 297 billion VND.
The project contributes to gradually upgrading and completing the border belt road connecting the traffic infrastructure between National Highway 18A, National Highway 18B and National Highway 18C to form a complete traffic network to serve the needs of socio-economic development, helping localities develop land funds, develop production, and help communes in the area complete the criteria for building new rural areas according to the approved planning.
Thanks to synchronous traffic connections, convenient trade and travel have helped Hai Son develop day by day.
The route is also a driving force to promote the exchange of goods, attract investment projects, eliminate hunger and reduce poverty for ethnic minorities, contribute to the rapid development of Mong Cai Border Gate Economic Zone and Bac Phong Sinh Border Gate Economic Zone, thereby enhancing economic exchange and friendly cooperation between Vietnam and China.
"In parallel with the investment in renovating and upgrading National Highway 18C by superiors, the commune also urgently mobilized resources to complete rural traffic infrastructure, connecting intra-regional and inter-regional areas.
Thanks to that, up to now, the transportation network in the area has been invested and completed, facilitating trade and developing production in the direction of goods.
Up to now, the commune has no more poor or near-poor households according to the province's standards, the majority of households are well-off or better off in the commune," Mr. Sang added.
Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/ngay-xuan-tro-lai-po-hen-192250213155318244.htm
Comment (0)