With the tradition of "When drinking water, remember the source, when eating fruit, remember the person who planted the tree", from 2023, the Vietnam Journalists Association initiated the program "Lighting the flame of gratitude" with the first practical gratitude and support activities in Quang Binh and Quang Tri provinces as a gratitude and encouragement to relatives of heroic martyrs, journalist soldiers and families of those who have overcome injuries and difficulties, continuing to contribute their strength and intelligence in work, production and study.

In 2024, towards the 77th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27, 1947 - July 27, 2024), the 100th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 - June 21, 2025), the Vietnam Journalists Association continues to organize the Social Activity Program "Lighting the Flame of Gratitude - 2024" from July 16 - 18, 2024 in Nghe An.

Within the framework of the Program, the delegation of the Vietnam Journalists Association led by comrades: Le Quoc Minh - Member of the Party Central Committee, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, President of the Vietnam Journalists Association; Nguyen Duc Loi - Former Member of the Party Central Committee, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Journalists Association, offered flowers and incense to commemorate President Ho Chi Minh at the Nghi Loc District Martyrs' Cemetery, the Vietnam - Laos International Martyrs' Cemetery; held a memorial service for 512 heroic martyrs of Vietnamese revolutionary journalists at Au Lac Pagoda.

The delegation also visited and presented gifts to war invalids, sick soldiers and people with meritorious services at Nghe An War Invalids Nursing Center; presented gifts to policy families, poor households and poor but studious students in Nghi Loc and Anh Son districts.

Red address for generations of journalists to continue, remembering the previous generation

In the program, the Memorial Service for 512 heroic martyrs of Vietnamese revolutionary journalists at Au Lac Pagoda - Da Pagoda in Vinh city left many special impressions. The ceremony took place solemnly in the emotion of hundreds of people including leaders of the Journalists Association, leaders of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee, Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Nghe An Province and journalists, reporters along with a large number of monks, nuns and Buddhists when being reminded of the merits of the heroes and martyrs.

Journalist Tran Van Hien - former Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Nghe An Newspaper, former Head of Representative Office of Nguoi Lam Bao Magazine in Nghe An spent more than 15 years piecing together documents and information and bringing 512 heroic martyrs to worship at Au Lac Pagoda.

The evidence and documents about 512 martyr journalists who heroically sacrificed their lives while working, propagating on battlefields and performing international duties in the two resistance wars against France and the US and in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland are excellent writers, proficient in their profession, brave cadres and employees of many press agencies across the country such as: VNA, Voice of Vietnam, People's Army Cinema (QĐND), QĐND Newspaper, Nhan Dan, Cuu Quoc, Giai Phong...

Speaking at the ceremony, comrade Le Quoc Minh - Member of the Party Central Committee, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, President of the Vietnam Journalists Association was moved: " Today, we are here, burning incense to offer to the souls of soldier journalists - colleagues, predecessors, people who have devoted their youth so that news, photos, and films about the cause of national liberation, protecting the independence, peace, and freedom of the Fatherland can be spread throughout the country and the world. Those great contributions are shining examples, a reminder for every journalist today to make more efforts, determined to overcome difficulties, constantly innovate, be professional and make breakthroughs, and make positive contributions to the cause of Vietnam's Revolutionary Journalism".

Paying tribute to those who have dedicated and sacrificed their blood for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.

Visiting the Nghe An War Invalids Nursing Center (Nghi Phong Commune, Nghi Loc District), the delegation of the Vietnam Journalists Association presented gifts to war invalids and people with meritorious services. This place is currently taking care of 57 people, including 56 people with meritorious services to the revolution and 1 person who is a relative of a person with meritorious services. Here, the delegation witnessed the special emotions of war invalids when remembering the heroic stories of the war, the years of fighting, determined to regain independence and freedom for the Fatherland; so that the people can enjoy peace, prosperity and happiness.

Receiving the gift on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27, 1947 - July 27, 2024), the wounded soldiers, sick soldiers and people with meritorious services at the Center were moved and expressed their deep gratitude to the Working Group of the Vietnam Journalists Association for their meaningful visit.

At the program, kindly visiting and encouraging the wounded soldiers, relatives of martyrs and people with meritorious services, comrade Le Quoc Minh expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation for the contributions of the wounded soldiers, the people with meritorious services who have devoted and sacrificed their blood and bones for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland. At the same time, he wished that the wounded soldiers, the wounded soldiers, relatives of martyrs and people with meritorious services to the revolution continue to live healthy, overcome the pain of injuries, rest assured to recuperate, uphold the example of courage, the will and bravery of "Uncle Ho's soldiers", continue to build their families and homeland to be more and more prosperous.

Also in the Program, the delegation of the Vietnam Journalists Association came to present gifts to families with meritorious services, poor households and poor but studious students in Nghi Loc and Anh Son districts. These are meaningful gifts, gratitude and encouragement that the Vietnam Journalists Association and sponsors send to families with meritorious services, families with difficult circumstances, poor but studious students, and officers and soldiers who are day and night firmly protecting the "fence" of the Fatherland.

Accordingly, in Nghi Loc district, the Vietnam Journalists Association in collaboration with sponsors presented 7 gratitude houses to 5 poor households in difficult circumstances and 2 policy families; presented 15 gifts, each worth 1,000,000 VND to poor but studious students in the district.

In Anh Son district, the Vietnam Journalists Association coordinated with sponsors to present 2,000 Vietnam-Laos flags to the Vietnam-Laos International Cemetery Management Board; presented 3 gratitude houses and great solidarity houses to families of people with revolutionary contributions and families in difficult circumstances; presented 10 tablets, 20 scholarships, each worth 1,000,000 VND, 20 Thong Nhat bicycles and 20 gifts to poor students who have overcome difficulties in the locality.

In addition, the program "Lighting the Flame of Gratitude - 2024" also donated 100,000,000 VND to Phuc Son Border Guard Station, under the Nghe An Provincial Border Guard Command, to contribute to the implementation of the "Plan to Build an Economic Development Model to Eliminate Hunger and Reduce Poverty for People in the Border Area of ​​Phuc Son Commune" and donated 1 computer and 1 television to officers and soldiers of Phuc Son Commune Police.

Previously, the Vietnam Journalists Association also presented a commemorative medal and 500 mosquito nets to soldiers at the Nghe An Provincial Military Command.

It can be said that the Program "Lighting the Flame of Gratitude - 2024" with extremely meaningful activities has been a great success. Sharing at the Program, Comrade Le Quoc Minh stated: Our country is entering a new period of development, a period of promoting industrialization and modernization of the country for a rich people, a strong country, a democratic, fair and civilized society. That is the goal to meet the aspirations of all people, so more than ever, the work of taking care of the families of heroic martyrs, those who have contributed to the revolution, poor students who overcome difficulties... is both the responsibility of the Party and the State, and the responsibility and sentiment of all people. "We hope that the gifts from the Program "Lighting the Flame of Gratitude - 2024" will contribute to making the lives of relatives of heroic martyrs, families in difficult circumstances and poor but studious students... better".

Quoc Tran