The meeting was not only a bridge between the past and the present, but also ignited in the hearts of the city's youth generation national pride and always remembered a time of heroic and glorious fighting.
Mr. Olivier Parriaux (left) and Mr. Bernard Bachelard (right), two of the three Swiss citizens who "risked their lives" to hang the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam on the top of the Notre Dame Cathedral on January 18 and 19, 1969 - Photo by HUU HANH
On the evening of November 15, the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union organized an exchange program with the theme "Sharing the Aspiration for Peace" between the group of young people who once hung the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam on top of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and the city's youth union members.
The exchange attracted the participation of more than 200 union members and young people, creating a space for deep connection between generations.
Choose to stand on the side of justice, wishing for peace and freedom
The movement against the Vietnam War is not only an epic poem written with the blood and tears of tens of thousands of students in the country, but also a symbol of global solidarity.
Everywhere in the country, the movement was seething, and it quickly spread, attracting strong support from international friends. This created a great spiritual strength, helping Vietnam not to be alone in the journey of fighting for independence.
Many union members and young people attended and listened to the story of - Photo: HUU HANH
At the meeting, Mr. Bernard Bachelard, one of the three people who hung the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam on Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, shared about the motivation for his actions and those of his companions.
According to Mr. Bernard, this was a political act, associated with the wave of uprising against the capitalist regime at that time. Three young men in their twenties at that time enthusiastically stood up, chose to stand on the side of justice, conveying the desire for peace and freedom.
Union members talk with characters on the sidelines of the program - Photo: HUU HANH
The movement of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam became a turning point, inspiring national liberation movements around the world.
When asked why he chose Notre Dame Cathedral to perform the symbolic act, Mr. Bernard explained that this is a building of special beauty, honored by the French people and the world.
"The flag-planting event was a bell ringing, proving that the movement against the Vietnam War had spread all over the world," he said.
Vietnam never forgets the support of international friends.
Also participating in the conversation at the event was Ms. Ton Nu Thi Ninh, former Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee. Ms. Ninh confided that Ho Chi Minh City in particular and Vietnam in general sent an invitation to the two men to visit Ho Chi Minh City, because for Vietnam, the elderly as well as those of the younger generation, are always grateful, never forgetting the support, solidarity, and unanimity of international friends, even in very diverse and different forms.
Many union members and young people brought the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam to ask for the two men's signatures - Photo: HUU HANH
The exchange ended in a warm and thoughtful atmosphere. The vivid stories of the characters recreated a heroic history page, bringing the young generation of Ho Chi Minh City back to the heroic fighting atmosphere of the nation.
The program is not only a bridge between the past and the present, but also ignites in the hearts of the young generation national pride, patriotism and always remembers a time of heroic and glorious fighting.
On November 18 and 19, 1969, all of Paris (France) was in an uproar because on top of the 100m high Notre Dame Cathedral, a huge flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam was flying - a symbol of resilience and hope for peace.
The two people who interacted with the youth of Ho Chi Minh City today were the authors of that symbolic action. But these silent people have kept the secret for more than 50 years and it was not until 2023 that the whole world learned the identity of the flag-raiser.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thanh-nien-tp-hcm-giao-luu-cung-hai-nguoi-tréo-co-viet-nam-tren-nha-tho-duc-ba-paris-20241115222258453.htm
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