Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan talks with Ngo Van Tho, a 17-year old who jumped from a bridge to rescue a pupil.

PANO – Two military officers were awarded Vietnam Glory insignias in a solemn ceremony held in Hanoi on May 1.

People’s Army Newspaper and Labour newspaper have cooperated to organise the award ceremony this year.

The insignias are given to ordinary people and groups who have contributed to the development of the country or their actions show great examples in helping others or the community.

Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan and high-ranking officials of the State and Party attended the ceremony.

Among nine people honoured this year, there are two military officers and wife of a military doctor who died last year while he was trying to help local people in a terrible flood.

Colonel Do Ngoc Toan, chief of Anti drug criminal department under Lao Cai Border Guard Command, was honoured at the ceremony. Colonel Toan and his unit have dealt with many big drug cases in the northwest border of Vietnam that have been reported over the years.

The other officer who was given the insignia was Second Lieutenant Nguyen Xuan Nghiem, who rescued more than 40 people in a flood.

People who was awarded the Vietnam Glory insignia this year included Ngo Van Tho, a 17-year old boy from Quang Tri, who jumped from a bridge, 30 metre high, to rescued a pupil.

Ngoc Hung