Vietnam's 'Calling the Names of the Nation's Stars' Campaign Honors Fallen Soldiers

A nationwide campaign, "Calling the Names of the Nation's Stars," is stirring profound emotions across Vietnam, bringing a sense of shared purpose and empathy to the public. The initiative, focused on locating, collecting, and repatriating the remains of soldiers who died during past conflicts, has captured widespread attention and heartfelt support.

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Never before has a campaign like the 500-day and night 'Calling the Names of the Nation's Stars' been launched and implemented in such a short time and received such special attention and enthusiastic reception from the people.

The author reflects on the deep personal impact of such efforts, sharing the story of his own brother, who died in the Tây Nam border war in 1978. For years, his mother grieved without a photograph or even a confirmed burial site for her son. The family's eventual success in locating his remains and later repatriating them to their home province brought a measure of peace, but it also underscored the plight of countless other families still searching for their lost loved ones.

This personal narrative highlights the immense scale of the challenge. While the government and military continue to organize teams to search for and identify the remains of fallen soldiers across former battlefields, tens of thousands of individuals remain unaccounted for. The campaign seeks to provide solace and a sense of honor to these families, acknowledging their sacrifices and the enduring pain of uncertainty.

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My mother's tears gradually dried up as she got older. She would suddenly cry while looking at the altar, especially on the anniversary of the death notice.

The initiative is more than just a search for physical remains; it represents a collective effort to acknowledge the immense sacrifices made for national reunification. By bringing closure to families and ensuring that fallen soldiers are properly honored, the campaign aims to strengthen national unity and remembrance, allowing current generations to connect with the past and appreciate the cost of peace.

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Although many years have passed, the State, the armed forces, and authorities at all levels have always paid attention and strived to organize working groups in provinces and cities to search for, collect, and identify the remains of martyrs on all former battlefields.