Ho Chi Minh City honors martyrs at Con Dao memorial

Leaders and former officials from Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong province, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau province gathered at the Con Dao temple to commemorate martyrs and patriotic individuals who sacrificed their lives on the island. The ceremony, held on July 26, marked the 79th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day.

Con Dao, historically known as a "hell on earth" under colonial and imperial rule, imprisoned tens of thousands of Vietnamese patriots and revolutionaries. Despite harsh conditions, they maintained their revolutionary spirit, transforming the prison into a site of political struggle for national independence and freedom.

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Their immense sacrifices have made sacred values and are the components that make up Vietnam's standing, building the homeland's rampart. The red blood of our grandfathers and grandmothers has merged with the ocean waves, seeped into every stone, and carved the sacred image of the Con Dao temple and the historic Hang Duong Cemetery.

Nguyen Phuoc Loc, Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, spoke at the ceremony, affirming that the immense sacrifices made by these individuals are sacred and integral to Vietnam's resilience. He stated their blood has merged with the sea and soil, immortalizing their memory at the Con Dao temple and the historic Hang Duong Cemetery.

Loc urged the political system to focus on key tasks, including actively supporting and effectively implementing programs for those who have contributed to the nation. He stressed the importance of educating the younger generation about patriotism and revolutionary ideals, ensuring policies for war veterans are comprehensive and continuous, and fostering collaboration to uphold their legacy.

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This tradition is always preserved, inherited, awakened, and indomitable in all circumstances; in every achievement of today, there is always the silent but noble presence of those who have fallen.