Thai Thuy commune joins forces to implement the 500-day campaign

For over half a century, Mr. Nguyen Trung Truc (Mai Diem village, Thai Thuy commune) has harbored a deep desire to find the resting place of his older brother, martyr Nguyen Van Chuc. In September 1969, Mr. Truc's brother enlisted in Unit C70, Division 711, and bravely sacrificed his life on April 22, 1972, at the foot of the western hill of Chau Son, Que Son district, Quang Nam province (now Da Nang city). Since then, his family has only been able to rely on information from his comrades and the death certificate. When the State launched the 500-Day Campaign, Mr. Truc and his sister registered to provide DNA samples. His family hopes that the Party, the State, and relevant agencies will soon identify his brother's grave so that the family can bring him home or at least know his exact resting place.

It's not just Mr. Truc's family; it's the same sentiment shared by countless families searching for the remains of fallen soldiers. For them, each biological sample collected today not only serves the purpose of DNA testing but also opens the door to closing a decades-long search, allowing their fallen sons to be called by name and return to the embrace of their families and hometowns. In gratitude to those who sacrificed for the Fatherland, in recent days, officers and soldiers of the armed forces in Thai Thuy commune have been determined to complete the 500-day campaign. Thai Thuy commune currently has two martyrs' cemeteries. The Duong Van Binh Martyrs' Cemetery (An Ninh village) contains 138 unidentified martyrs' graves; the Diem Dien Martyrs' Cemetery (village number 3) contains 4 unidentified martyrs' graves. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Truong Giang, Commander of the Military Command of Thai Thuy Commune, said: "The unit proactively coordinated with specialized forces to develop a detailed plan and deployed personnel to participate throughout the excavation and sample collection process of fallen soldiers' remains. With a sense of urgency and responsibility, the sample collection at the two martyrs' cemeteries was completed according to plan. As a result, the functional forces excavated 142 out of 142 graves of fallen soldiers, of which 99 samples met the requirements. The entire excavation and sample collection process was carried out solemnly, strictly, and in accordance with regulations. By July 15th, the graves were restored to their original state."

Van Du commune, now Xuan Truc commune (Hung Yen province), is a rural area rich in patriotic traditions. In this revolutionary homeland, Bui Thi Cuc was born – a shining example of patriotism, a courageous and resourceful female People's Public Security officer who bravely sacrificed herself to protect revolutionary bases, becoming a shining symbol of indomitable spirit and unwavering will.

Amidst the tranquil cemeteries of fallen soldiers bathed in the July sun, the green uniforms of young volunteers are present, participating in various tasks, from assisting in the collection of remains for DNA testing to accompanying the families of fallen soldiers, contributing to the journey of rediscovering the names of those who sacrificed their lives for the Fatherland.

Effective and sustainable poverty reduction is a key objective for localities throughout the province. In Phung Cong commune, with the support of the Party committee, government, and mass organizations, leveraging the advantages of the flower and ornamental plant craft village, assisting people in accessing capital, and transforming production according to market demands have contributed to increasing income and improving the lives of the people. To date, the commune no longer has any poor households, with only over 20 near-poor households remaining.

To complete the large volume of work in a short time, Thai Thuy commune mobilized the entire political system. Comrade Pham Quang Dan, Vice Chairman of the Thai Thuy Commune People's Committee, said: "Implementing the 500-day campaign is a new and unprecedented task for the locality. The participating forces are mostly part-time, so the requirements are very high in terms of responsibility, accuracy, and close coordination between forces. Based on that, the Commune Military Command, the Commune Police, and related units coordinated to ensure all conditions were met for DNA sample collection, while maintaining security, order, and safety throughout the implementation process. In addition, the Women's Union, the Veterans' Association, the Youth Union, and other commune organizations actively participated in cleaning and beautifying the martyrs' cemetery, and disseminating information to help people understand the significance of the campaign, thereby creating consensus and joint efforts to honor the heroic martyrs."

Along with excavating and collecting samples of the remains of unidentified martyrs, the Thai Thuy Commune Police, in coordination with relevant agencies, organized the collection of DNA samples from the relatives of martyrs in the area. Over the past period, the Thai Thuy Commune Police have coordinated the collection of 605 DNA samples from the relatives of martyrs. During the implementation process, officers and soldiers directly guided, supported, and encouraged families to collect samples, thereby spreading the humanitarian significance of the program and raising public awareness of the "Gratitude and Remembrance" work. Currently, there are still 288 martyrs in the commune whose relatives have not yet collected DNA samples to identify them. The commune police are continuing to coordinate and intensify propaganda, review, and urge families to promptly come to the police station to comply with regulations.

With the decisive involvement of the entire political system and the unanimous support of the people, the 500-day campaign in Thai Thuy commune is profoundly spreading the principle of "drinking water, remembering the source," contributing to rediscovering the names of the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.