General Nguyen Trong Nghia, Chief of the General Department of Political Affairs (GDP), attended the event.
    |
 |
|
General Nguyen Trong Nghia speaks at the gathering. |
After the liberation of the South and national reunification, the country continued to defend its Northern and Southwestern borders. Responding to the call, many youths of Dong Thap province voluntarily enlisted and joined local units, including Ap Bac II Battalion and Dong Thap Battalion, both established on April 30, 1979. Each battalion had more than 600 troops, mostly students who volunteered to defend the homeland.
Though facing harsh wartime conditions, severe terrain and weather, troops of both battalions were brave and resilient, overcame hardships, excellently completed their missions, and returned home in victory.
Promoting their traditions, members of both battalions have continued to uphold the noble qualities of Uncle Ho’s soldiers, actively contributed to movements, such as new-style rural area building and entire people protecting national security, helping maintain local political security and social order, and earning people’s trust and respect. Many have become leaders in local administration, or senior officers holding important positions in the Vietnam People’s Army.
|
|
 |
|
Gen. Nghia and delegates the event |
Though time flies, the traditions of the two battalions remain a great source of encouragement for local younger generations, especially the youth of the provincial armed forces, to carry forward.
Addressing the gathering, Gen. Nghia expressed deep gratitude to the participants of this meaningful event. He recalled the hard but glorious years of sacrifice and heroism of the nation, including the contribution of troops and people of Dong Thap province.
He said that although those heroic years have passed, they remain deeply engraved in everyone’s hearts and minds. They were long marches filled with hardship, scorching days under the sun in Truong Son mountain range, freezing nights in Viet Bac and border forests, sleepless nights missing family and hometown, strong comradeship and solidarity, and an unwavering will to overcome all hardships and fulfill the mission.
|
|
 |
|
Gen. Nghia presents flowers and gifts to the Liaison Boards of Ap Bac II Battalion and Dong Thap Battalion. |
He emphasized that the gathering was not only to cherish history and take pride in the glorious past, but also to reaffirm the responsibility to the present and the confidence in the future and to value peace, independence, freedom, and unity gained by great sacrifice by old generations.
|
|
 |
|
Gen. Nghia and leaders of Dong Thap province present gifts to local disadvantaged students with excellent academic results. |
He expressed confidence that the patriotism, courage, dedication, and comradeship of the older generations would continue to be preserved, promoted, and passed on to young ones.
Translated by Mai Huong