The program was honored to have Lieutenant General Truong Thien To, Deputy Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army, attend and speak.

People's Army Newspaper introduces to readers the full text of Lieutenant General Truong Thien To's speech at the program:

Lieutenant General Truong Thien To, Deputy Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army, spoke at the program. Photo: CUONG KHOA

These days, our entire Party, people, army and patriotic overseas Vietnamese around the world are joyfully looking forward to the grand celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 / April 30, 2025). Today, we are happy and joyful to be present at the Reunification Hall (Independence Palace historical site), where 50 years ago we witnessed the historic moment of complete victory for us, the unification of the country, and the unification of the country.

On behalf of the leadership of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army, I would like to express my honor, pride and great emotion to welcome and meet 50 delegates of Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, generals and veterans - those who directly fought, sacrificed, and contributed to the historic victory of Spring 1975, completely liberating the South and reunifying the country.

Lieutenant General Truong Thien To presented flowers and gifts of gratitude to Vietnamese Heroic Mothers at the program. Photo: CUONG KHOA

From the hearts of the generation of Uncle Ho's soldiers who grew up in peacetime and inherited the revolutionary achievements of their fathers and brothers, we would like to send to the heroic Vietnamese Mothers, Heroes, generals, and veterans attending today's program our sincere and profound gratitude and our best wishes for health, happiness, peace, and longevity!

The 50 delegates attending the meeting and exchange today are meaningful as a spiritual symbol, celebrating the 50th anniversary of national reunification; a source of strength, encouragement, and fuel for the glorious tradition for the young generation to confidently and steadily rise up, and worthily continue the revolutionary cause of the nation in the new era.

The victory of April 30, 1975 is a great milestone, a source of great pride for the Vietnamese people, a shining symbol of revolutionary heroism, the aspiration for peace, independence, freedom, and the strength of great national unity under the leadership of the Party and beloved President Ho Chi Minh.

During more than 20 years of resistance against the US to save the country, countless outstanding sons and daughters fell with the will to die for the Fatherland. Soldiers in their twenties left their homeland, shouldered their backpacks and crossed Truong Son to go to battle. Mothers, wives, sisters, and children in the rear silently endured loss and sacrifice, sending their husbands and children to the front line with all their love and faith in the day of total victory.

Lieutenant General Truong Thien To visited and talked with delegates attending the program. Photo: CUONG KHOA

50 years have passed. That is a long enough time for a new generation to grow up and mature in peace, in the innovation, integration and strong development of the country. However, for those who directly fought with guns, who sacrificed their youth, blood and bones for the peace and independence of the nation, the marks of 50 years ago are still intact in their minds, as if it were just yesterday.

April 30, 1975 has been recorded in the history of the nation as a brilliant milestone. That was the day when the entire nation was jubilant in the joy of victory, the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam fluttered on the roof of the Independence Palace, signaling the moment when the country was reunited, ending the years of war full of hardship, loss, sacrifice and the pain of a divided country. That was the day when generations of fathers and brothers - Uncle Ho's soldiers, including the heroes, generals and veterans present here, affirmed to the whole world that the indomitable will, patriotism, strength of the Vietnamese people, the aspiration for peace, national independence and national unification are immortal, no force can subdue. That spirit, that will, that aspiration... will forever be a seething enthusiasm, forming pride, steadfast belief, and great spiritual motivation for our entire Party, people and army in the new era.

In this program, besides the acts of gratitude, we listen to the stories from the sincere and touching sharing of Heroes, generals, and veterans who fought on the front lines. These people have contributed their youth to write the heroic epic that brings glory to the nation, so that the country can blossom with independence and bear fruit of peace and freedom. Each story, each memory, each face present here is a vivid page of history, a sacred flame of inspiration, a command reminding today's generation to constantly strive to study, practice and contribute, worthy of the sacrifices and revolutionary achievements of the previous generation.

Lieutenant General Truong Thien To presented flowers and gifts of gratitude to the general delegates and People's Armed Forces Heroes. Photo: CUONG KHOA

On behalf of the General Department of Politics, I acknowledge and commend the People's Army Newspaper for organizing this touching and meaningful program so that today's generation can express their gratitude and record the great contributions of the heroic Vietnamese Mothers, generals, heroes of the armed forces and veterans who have devoted their lives to the independence and freedom of the Fatherland. The officers and soldiers of the entire army vow to follow in the footsteps of their fathers and brothers, firmly uphold the revolutionary goals and ideals, and contribute to building a revolutionary, disciplined, elite and gradually modernized Vietnam People's Army; firmly protect the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam, and together with the whole country enter a new era, an era of the Vietnamese people's rise.

Once again, I would like to express my sincere feelings, respect, gratitude and wish the heroic Vietnamese Mother, heroic comrades, generals, veterans, distinguished guests and all comrades and friends good health, happiness and success!

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/xay-dung-quan-doi/phat-bieu-cua-trung-tuong-truong-thien-to-tai-chuong-trinh-gap-mat-giao-luu-50-nam-toan-thang-ve-ta-824163