Son of fallen hero Lê Thị Riêng hopes to bring mother's remains home after 58 years
Translated from Vietnamese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- A son is hoping to find the remains of his mother, a fallen hero, nearly 60 years after her death.
- Lê Thị Riêng, a decorated soldier, was buried in a mass grave after her sacrifice, and her exact location was lost over time.
- Authorities are currently excavating the park named after her in Ho Chi Minh City, offering renewed hope for the family's long-held wish.
In Ho Chi Minh City, Lê Chí Công visits the memorial to his mother, Lê Thị Riêng, a hero of the Vietnamese military forces. He stands before the monument, a somber figure lighting incense, his heart filled with a decades-long hope: to find his mother's remains.
Lê Thị Riêng, recognized as a Hero of the People's Armed Forces, was reportedly buried in a collective grave after her death. Over the years, as the area was developed into a park, the precise location of her resting place was lost. Now, as authorities conduct excavations in the park bearing her name, Lê Chí Công and his family see a glimmer of hope.
I am very hopeful and grateful to the Party, the State, and especially the forces directly involved in the search and collection of remains. The family hopes the operation will be successful and that the remains of the martyrs, including my mother, will be found soon.
"I am very hopeful and grateful to the Party, the State, and especially the forces directly involved in the search and collection of remains," Công shared. "The family hopes the operation will be successful and that the remains of the martyrs, including my mother, will be found soon." He understands the difficulty of the task, acknowledging that many remains are still unfound and some collected ones cannot be identified.
Despite the challenges, Công remains optimistic, citing the organized approach and the involvement of officials, scientists, witnesses, and relatives. For him, this search is more than just an excavation; it is an embodiment of the Vietnamese principle of "drinking water, remember its source" and "repaying gratitude" to those who sacrificed their lives. "If we are lucky enough to find my mother's remains, it will be an immense joy and fortune for my family," he said.
If we are lucky enough to find my mother's remains, it will be an immense joy and fortune for my family.
Originally published by Thanh Niên in Vietnamese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.