Taking part in the event were President Nguyen Minh Triet, Lieutenant General Dong Sy Nguyen, former commander of 559 Army Corps, and many other commanders, war veterans and volunteers who fought in fierce battles along the trail. On the side of Quang Binh province, there were Mr Luong Ngoc Binh, Permanent Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Council; Mr Phan Lam Phuong, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee; Vice-chairpersons of the PPC and leading representative of province-level departments and branches.

President Nguyen Minh Triet addressing the anniversary

Giving an opening speech at the anniversary, President Triet said he was honored to be based on the section of trail, where 50 years ago many young men and women fell for the cause of independence and freedom of the fatherland, trekking over Truong Son to the South to fight on battlefields. President Triet affirmed that the Party, Government and the people will always remember and owe a debt of gratitude to heroes, martyrs, war invalids, veterans and former young volunteers who sacrificed their youth and even their lives for the cause.

Delegates taking part in the anniversary

In the program, more than 100 members of staff and soldiers from Quang Binh Province Military Headquarters reenacted the building of the trail from Tan Ky District, Nghe An Province, to Loc Ninh District in Binh Long Province. It helped viewers realize the hardships, challenges and losses that soldiers and volunteers endured to build the legendary trail 50 years ago. Lieutenant Generals Dong Sy Nguyen and Phan Khac Hy, Major Generals Vo So and Hoang Anh Tuan and Colonel Nguyen Huu Dai recalled their unforgettable stories of violent battles along Truong Son Mountain, as well their comrades who worked selflessly and fought with determination against US invaders.

Historical witnesses taking part in the anniversary

On this occasion, representative of the Traffic Works Construction Corporation (CIENCO 5) granted 12 houses of gratitude to representative of four provinces of Nghe An, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Ha Tinh; representative of the Military Telecom Corporation (Viettel) also presented gifts to relatives of seven families of the martyrs in Cha Quang Hill. This is a meaningful action that expresses the deep gratitude to heroes, martyrs, war invalids, veterans and former young volunteers who sacrificed their youth and life for the Fatherland as well as contributes to heal the pain of the war for the martyrs’ relatives.

A performance to reenact the history of lengendary Truong Son Trail

Program "Truong Son Trail: the way we go" is in a wide range of cultural activities to mark the 50 anniversary of Truong Son Trail’s establishment. This is an opportunity to express the deep thanks of the people and the nation for the contribution made by the young soldiers and female volunteers who sacrificed their youth and life on the Truong Son Trail. The programme is intended to remind young people of the previous generation’s sacrifices for national liberation and to increase their pride and love for the homeland.

Reported by N.H - Translated by N.Y