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Con Khanh sharing his story with troops of the Border Post of La Lay International Border Gate |
In the border area of La Lay, the story of peace continues to be written by the border guards through specific, humane, and meaningful actions.
Fifty years have passed since National Reunification Day. The border communes of A Bung and A Ngo in Dakrong District, Quang Tri Province, have seen many changes. However, the stories of the years fighting against the American imperialists remain the pride of the elderly and a fairy tale for the children. During those years, many young people from the Pa Co ethnic minority group directly fought or carried weapons, ammunition, and supplies to the front lines. This is one of the reasons why, for many years, in addition to building, managing, and protecting national border sovereignty and security, officers and soldiers of the La Lay Border Post, in collaboration with local authorities and benefactors, have taken various measures to improve the lives of local people.
Recently, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the South’s Liberation and National Reunification, the border post and a charitable group from Hanoi presented 220 gifts to locals. Among the gifts, nearly half were given to families with revolutionary contributions. The Head of the La Lay International Border Gate Border Post, Colonel Ngo Truong Khoi, personally wrote letters to invite representatives of these families to come to La Lay Border Post to watch the live broadcast of the parade and celebration of the 50th anniversary of national reunification and to receive gifts.
At the event, Con Khang, who served at Station 106 from 1963 to 1974 at Ca Luoi Pass, A Ngo Commune, recalled the time when the U.S. sent bombers and troops to A Ngo in an attempt to block the transport of soldiers, weapons, and supplies to the South. Con Khang and the soldiers at the station both fought and maintained the supply line for the Southern theater. Decades have passed, but the moment when he heard the announcement of victory on the radio is still clear in his mind. Tears filled his eyes as North and South were reunited.
Similarly, the story of Heroic Vietnamese Mother Can Thung in Ty Ne Hamlet, A Bung Commune, still touches people’s hearts. At the call of the nation, Con Thung, Mother Thung’s husband, and her two sons, Ho Van Thung and Cu Toa, all went to the front. One afternoon in April 1961, Mother Thung received the heartbreaking news that her son Cu Toa, the head of the guerrilla squad in A Bung, had laid down his life. The pain of losing a beloved one gradually subsided over time, since she knew that her son had sacrificed himself for peace, independence, and freedom. However, in July 1969, she received another devastating blow when her eldest son, Ho Van Thung, was killed while transporting weapons. Less than five months later, she was struck again with the news that her husband had died on the battlefield.
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Lao people receiving gifts |
In recent years, Mother Can Thung has received support and care from the local authorities and the officers and soldiers of La Lay Border Post. The border guard troops frequently visit her, bring gifts, and help repair her house. Since the beginning of this year, the border post has raised VND 118 million to take care of her. Despite her frailty and diminished memory, each time the border guard soldiers visit, Mother Thung greets them with a smile and warm, affectionate eyes.
Colonel Ngo Truong Khoi and Colonel Le Dang Hoang, the border post’s Political Officer, have spent many years working in border areas. They clearly understand the difficulties of the people and always show special affection for children. During this event, they suggested the charitable group from Hanoi organize a border feast for students in the area. As a result, 1,200 students from kindergarten to secondary school in A Bung Commune were treated to a feast celebrating the 50th anniversary of national reunification. These Pa Co children, for the first time, enjoyed delicious sausages, cakes, and milk tea, which were prepared by the soldiers and volunteers. After the feast, the children were also given toys and new clothes. The feast will surely be an unforgettable April 30 celebration for children born into an era of peace.
On that day, Ho Thi Nghiem and 100 families from Cu Tai Deng and La Lay A Soi in the cluster of villages II, Sa Muoi District, Salavan Province, Laos, arrived early at Landmark 635 at La Lay International Border Gate. Everyone was excited to receive gifts from La Lay Border Post. Once a La Lay local, Nghiem married a man from La Lay A Soi more than a decade ago. She recalled that when she first visited her boyfriend's home in La Lay A Soi, his mother told her about the time when she and her husband had worked as conscripted laborers to carry supplies for the Vietnamese revolution from 1965 to 1972. Her stories reminded her of her own parents, who had also carried supplies for soldiers. She decided to marry him and move to La Lay A Soi.
Nghiem mentioned that when the village head, Ho Van Thanh, informed them that her family would receive gifts from La Lay Border Post, her mother was overjoyed. "My mother is happy because people have not forgotten the contributions of those who participated in the fight for the South’s liberation. No matter where we live—in two countries with two nationalities—the people of Laos and Vietnam are forever brothers, just like the enduring friendship between the two countries," she said.
Translated by Tran Hoai