PANO - A monument, “Remembrance”, a significant and humanitarian sculpture structure, is going to be erected in Quang Tri town in celebration of the 65th anniversary of the Day of War-Invalids and Martyrs, July 27th.
The erection, as approved by Quang Tri Provincial People’s Committee and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, will be conducted by the Remembrance Tourism Development Fund, Quang Tri Province.
Once completed, this structure will help educate the tradition of “While drinking water, remember its source”, to younger generations.
Message of memories of the war and aspiration for peace
During the resistance war against American imperialist for national salvation, Quang Tri Province was one of the historic battlefields which witnessed fierce battles between revolutionary and anti-revolutionary forces.
Quang Tri was also a place which eyed the pain of the country division for 20 years.
The battle to defend the Quang Tri ancient citadel during 81 fierce days and nights in Summer 1972 was one of the fiercest in the history of national defence.
At present, around 600,000 martyrs, who were children from cities and provinces across Vietnam, rest in peace in martyrs’ cemeteries in Quang Tri, including two national cemeteries, namely Truong Son and Road 9.
Mrs. Nguyen Thi Binh, former Vice State President of Vietnam, Chairwoman of Vietnam Peace and Development Fund said that Quang Tri was a land where traces of terrible destruction in Vietnam War remained clear. This was also a place, where our compatriots, troops and peace lovers in the world, gathered.
Therefore, contruction of the Remembrance Monument was necessary. This showed honor, token of gratitude to heroes, martyrs and those who had rendered good services for the cause of national salvation and victims of the war.
The Monument, according to Mrs. Binh, would be a place for people to recall magnanimous moments of our nation in the fight for national independence and reunification and to pray for peace, prosperity for the country and for friendship, cooperation and civilization, dialogues and no war for the mankind.
For his part, Senior Lieutenant-General Nguyen Huy Hieu, former Deputy Defence Minister, Honorable Chairman of the Remembrance Tourism Development Fund, Quang Tri Province, said that the monument was not only of significance of art value, but also of noble humanity, featuring the aspiration for peace and freedom of Vietnam and for close connection of the past towards future, for the abolishment of national hatred and for the nurturing of national great unity to build a more proper and beautiful Vietnam as Uncle Ho used to wish.
Remembrance Monument
The monument was designed by sculptor Nguyen Phu Cuong, Deputy Head of Fine Art, Photography and Exhibition Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
As designed, the monument focuses on Quang Tri ancient citadel’s war-torn wall. The wall is held by a ribbon of cloud from which doves will be flying. In the middle of the monument stands troops and at the foot of the monument are waves symbolizing Thach Han River.
The war-torn wall is placed on a small hill, which is 2m high, and surrounded by 9 copper pillars supporting 9 lotuses, symbolizing the aroma of earth.
The monument will be made from ruby stones, typical in Binh Dinh Province.
According to Major-General Phan Khac Hai, former Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Ministry (present Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), Deputy-Chairman of the fund, erecting this monument was a deep aspiration of veterans, war-invalids, sick soldiers, martyrs’ families.
Translated by Mai Huong