The "doves" connecting the army and people at the forefront

Delegates with officers and soldiers at the sovereignty landmark of Tho Chau island, a project built by the Central Youth Union and the Central Vietnam Student Association.

Crossing the East Sea

“Dear soldiers on Tho Chau Island. I am a student at Hoa Sen University, Ho Chi Minh City. I have heard a lot about your life and work on the island. I understand that you are day and night guarding the sea and sky of the Fatherland, protecting the sacred sovereignty of your homeland. Your life may be difficult, far from your family, lacking in necessities, but you always complete your tasks excellently. Your bravery and resilience have inspired me a lot…”; the above lines of the letter are the feelings of Huynh Gia Diem, a female delegate from the city named after Uncle Ho.

Arriving at Tho Chau island commune (Phu Quoc city, Kien Giang province), the delegation of Ho Chi Minh City brought more than 100 handwritten letters to officers and soldiers of Regiment 152 on the island, written by young people in response to the campaign "Students of Uncle Ho's City send all their love to soldiers at the forefront".

Those "swallows" filled with affection from the mainland were handed directly to "Uncle Ho's soldiers" through a series of activities within the framework of the Journey.

Receiving the letter still carrying the salty taste of the sea, Private First Class Nguyen Quoc Tuan, Company 2 (Infantry Battalion 1, Regiment 152) said: “To ensure training, we are only allowed to use the phone to call home on weekends, and we do not have much time to interact with our families, so sometimes we miss home and everything from the mainland. The handwritten letters that the delegates sent are special spiritual gifts, contributing to raising our spirits, helping us to be more confident in our guns, and continue to be ready to overcome all challenges to excellently complete all assigned tasks.”

Organized by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Student Association from August 8 to 11 in Tho Chau commune, the 2024 “Students with the sea and islands of the Fatherland” Journey has 200 delegates, who are outstanding Youth Union and Student Association officials, and excellent students from all over the country. Among them, there are many young people who have never known about the history of the fight against the Pol Pot-Ieng Sary genocide by the army and people of Tho Chau in 1975. Therefore, the organizing committee of the journey has designed a thematic discussion on the above content as soon as the delegates set foot on the island.

Pham Quang Viet Hoang, President of the Banking Academy Student Association, said: “The seminar helped me and the delegates better understand the historical events that took place here. Those are practical lessons that I was fortunate to have when participating in the Journey.”

The discussion helped me and the delegates better understand the historical events that took place here. Those were practical lessons that I was fortunate to have when participating in the Journey.

Pham Quang Viet Hoang, President of Banking Academy Student Association

Including a series of rich activities such as a discussion on the heroic fighting history of the army and people of Tho Chau island commune; exchanges and giving student works to local cadres, soldiers and people; the art program "Aspirations of Vietnamese Students" ..., the Journey not only helps to understand more deeply about one's role and responsibility towards the country, but also lights up the flame of enthusiasm, patriotism and national pride in each delegate, so that from there they can strive to practice, study, become "5 Good Students" and spread the model value of "5 Good Students" in the community.

Bridge of military-civilian relationship

The organizers have cleverly integrated many contents suitable for the thoughts, feelings and emotions of young people into the series of activities of the Journey "Students with the sea and islands of the Fatherland". A typical example is the children's activity with the presence of all delegates and "young citizens" of the island.

On the field of Tho Chau Primary and Secondary School, local children and students sang songs praising their beautiful homeland and country, enthusiastically participating in group games such as clay modeling, painting, tug of war, painting, etc. On this occasion, the organizing committee awarded 60 scholarships to students with good academic achievements and children in difficult circumstances on the island.

Ms. Hoang Thi Hue, Vice Principal of Tho Chau Primary and Secondary School, said: “The physical conditions on the island do not give children many opportunities to experience games like their peers on the mainland. In the summer, children often just run, play or swim together. I was really touched when I learned that all the delegates of the Journey brought gifts from all over the country to give to the children.

Also leaving many unforgettable impressions and emotions in the delegates was the VUG Running Race (part of the Vietnam Student Sports Tournament - VUG). 200 members of the delegation, along with a number of officers, soldiers and people of Tho Chau island commune, took meaningful steps, contributing to affirming Vietnam's sovereignty over the sea and islands.

On the nearly 1.5 km running route, young people can not only admire the beautiful natural scenery, but also clearly feel the daily life of local people on the island located in the far southwest of the country.

Immediately afterwards, 200 delegates divided into small groups, competing in team-building competitions closely related to the content of the "5 Good Students" movement.

“I am proud that our country is full of beautiful scenery, and I feel even warmer because of the resilient and strong faces of the island soldiers, the warmth of the people and the clear smiles of the local children. Although our time on the island was not long, we had the opportunity to participate in many meaningful activities such as increasing production with the soldiers, helping people clean up the coastal landscape, organizing games for children, etc. Since then, the national spirit and sense of responsibility of the youth in me have strongly surged”, delegate Nguyen Yen Linh, Vice President of the Student Association of Thang Long University (Hanoi) shared after finishing the race.

I am proud that our country is full of beautiful scenery, and I feel even warmer because of the resilient and strong faces of the island soldiers, the warmth of the people and the clear smiles of the local children.

Nguyen Yen Linh, Vice President of Student Association of Thang Long University (Hanoi)

After meeting the country's elite living on the island, the members of the delegation learned more about the difficulties, hardships and indomitable spirit of the Tho Chau army and people.

In the warm feelings of the officers, soldiers and people on the island, the delegation organized a special cultural exchange program with the theme “Aspirations of Vietnamese students”. In the light of the program’s campfire, many non-commissioned officers and soldiers connected, exchanged contacts, and even sent delegates from their hometowns souvenirs and handwritten letters back home.

Comrade Ngo Van Cuong, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Head of the delegation, said: “Tho Chau island commune is a sacred part of the Fatherland, with a particularly important position in terms of economy, politics, society, national defense and security. Contributing to firmly protecting and promoting the great potential of the sea and islands in general, Tho Chau island in particular, is not only the honor of today's youth and students, but also the responsibility of future generations. Over the past 10 years, the Journey "Students with the sea and islands of the Fatherland" has brought thousands of young delegates to Truong Sa archipelago and many youth islands and outposts such as Phu Quy, Con Dao, Co To, Ly Son, Cu Lao Xanh... Each journey is a bridge connecting the military and people, a special political activity of union officials and outstanding students, contributing young people's strength to firmly protect the sovereignty of the sacred sea and islands of the Fatherland".

Nhandan.vn

Source: https://nhandan.vn/nhung-canh-bo-cau-noi-tinh-quan-dan-noi-dau-song-post828347.html