There are few places like Quang Tri - a locality with an area of only 4,700 km2 but has up to 72 cemeteries with nearly 60,000 martyrs resting. Having gone through the heroic war to protect the Fatherland, in the hearts of every citizen here always burns the desire to preserve and foster the peace of the nation.
Lull the immortal song to infinity...
At the end of August, the cogon grass spreads its flags and dyes the Quang Tri Citadel, Quang Tri town, white. Many groups of tourists coming here seem to be silent in the sound of cicadas. Each person's footsteps are gentle, like the poem at the entrance to the Citadel Memorial - the common grave of heroic martyrs: Step lightly and speak softly/ So that my comrades can lie peacefully under the grass/ The sky of Quang Tri is blue and windy/ Forever lulling an immortal song to infinity (Pham Dinh Lan).
Hien Luong - Ben Hai Special National Historical Relic in Vinh Linh District, Quang Tri Province
To have the peace like today, countless blood and bones of our ancestors and heroes have been shed. Let's look from Quang Tri town with the "heart" of Quang Tri Citadel during the 81 days and nights of the "fiery summer" in 1972. At that time, this land of less than 4 km2 had to endure over 300,000 tons of bombs and bullets, equivalent to the destructive power of 7 atomic bombs.
Military scientists have estimated that on average, each liberation soldier in Quang Tri Citadel had to endure over 100 bombs and 200 artillery shells. However, bombs and bullets could not stop the determination of the officers and soldiers. They fought bravely until their last breath, steadfastly holding on, fighting with the enemy for each trench and each pile of rubble in Quang Tri Citadel.
After 81 days and nights (from June 28 to September 16, 1972) of heroic and resilient fighting, the liberation army soldiers completed their assigned strategic mission, defeating the enemy's plan to retake Quang Tri Citadel. This contributed decisively to the victory of the diplomatic struggle, forcing the US to sign the Paris Agreement, paving the way for the Great Spring Victory of 1975, unifying the country.
Truong Son National Martyrs Cemetery in Gio Linh district, Quang Tri province - the resting place of more than 10,200 heroic martyrs
In the battle to protect Quang Tri Citadel, more than 4,000 heroic martyrs sacrificed their blood and bones for the cause of peace and national reunification. The People's Army Newspaper at that time wrote: "Every square meter of land that our soldiers won in Quang Tri Citadel is truly a square meter of blood". Then, many years after the battle to protect Quang Tri Citadel, veteran Pham Dinh Lan wrote a poem as a message to everyone who came here: Step lightly and speak softly/ So that my comrades can lie peacefully under the grass...
After nearly half a century of national reunification, what is special is that in Quang Tri town, almost every household has a shrine to commemorate martyrs. On the full moon day of each month, people respectfully burn incense and pay tribute to the fallen heroes and martyrs.
No one knows since when, but after the sacred New Year's Eve, the people of Quang Tri town have chosen Quang Tri Citadel as the place to start the year. At the Citadel Memorial, there is never a time when people are absent from respectfully offering incense sticks to express their gratitude to the heroic martyrs who died for peace today.
Ms. Cap Thi Thien Trang, Head of the Management Board of the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel, said that not only in July - the month of gratitude to heroic martyrs - but also in all months of the year, many tourists come here to visit and commemorate. From the beginning of 2023 until now, Quang Tri Ancient Citadel has welcomed about 264,000 visitors, including many foreign tourist groups.
Along with the Citadel, the sacred land of Quang Tri is considered a vivid museum of the Vietnamese revolutionary war with a system of over 500 historical relics. Among them, many relics are associated with the great war to protect the Fatherland of the nation such as: Hien Luong - Ben Hai banks, Ho Chi Minh Trail, Vinh Moc Tunnels... and famous landmarks: Doc Mieu, Road 9, Khe Sanh, Lang Vay, Ta Con...
Burning desire and aspiration
It can be said that, in the war to defend the Fatherland, Quang Tri was one of the localities that witnessed the most brutality and pain. Therefore, peace has always been a burning desire, a common wish of the people of Quang Tri as well as all Vietnamese people. That is also the wish of hundreds of thousands of martyrs and war victims who are lying in the heart of motherland Quang Tri.
Coming to Quang Tri today, we may no longer witness the fierce and tragic images of war, but we will deeply feel the value of peace, independence, freedom, unity, and territorial integrity. Commemorating and paying tribute to the outstanding children who sacrificed for the Fatherland and the victims of war here, we will see that with its heroic history, Quang Tri is not only a place name of a locality but also becomes a common symbol of the whole country about the nation's desire for peace.
Veterans and tourists pay tribute to heroic martyrs at Quang Tri Citadel Memorial
With that in mind, the People's Committee of Quang Tri province is developing a project to organize the Festival for Peace. The festival aims to honor the values of peace, conveying the message of peace from the Vietnamese people and peace-loving peoples around the world.
According to Mr. Hoang Nam, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Tri province, since 2021, the Government has agreed in principle to allow this locality to organize a festival with a message for peace. The Festival for Peace is expected to be held in July, every two years, and is part of the list of major national cultural events to honor the value of peace, calling on everyone to join hands to fight, preserve, and build a peaceful and prosperous life for the homeland, country, and humanity.
The Festival for Peace is expected to be held for the first time in July 2024, including main activities: Releasing flower lanterns, lighting candles in gratitude; cultural and tourism exchange and promotion with performances and art exchanges from other countries... The main space of the festival is at the Hien Luong - Ben Hai Special National Historical Site, Quang Tri Ancient Citadel Special National Historical Site, and Thach Han River.
The Festival for Peace is expected to create emotional highlights, bringing the world of peace to Quang Tri and each resident of this province will become an ambassador for peace. Tourists coming to Quang Tri will join the festival, shouldering the mission of bringing the value of peace everywhere...
"The Festival for Peace aims to honor the values of peace, conveying the message of peace from the Vietnamese people and peace-loving peoples around the world.
There needs to be a national-level war remnants museum.
That was the suggestion of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue during his visit to Quang Tri province in July 2023. The National Assembly Chairman said that Quang Tri is the land that suffered the most fierce bombs and bullets during the two long resistance wars of the nation. Quang Tri is a suitable place to express the desire for peace.
"If Quang Tri wants to attract international visitors, it needs a national-level war relics museum. This element should be included in the national target program for cultural development strategy," the National Assembly Chairman emphasized.
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