THE FIRE PASSENGER MRS. LE THI KIEU AND REVOLUTIONARY MEMORIES IN THE MUSEUM SPACE

The Torchbearer: Mrs. Le Thi Kieu and Revolutionary Memories in the Museum Space

The Southern Women's Museum is not only a cultural institution that plays a role in preserving and introducing the heritage of women in Southern Vietnam, but also a space to educate the contemporary generations about traditional values, patriotism and revolutionary spirit. In the historic April days, when the whole country is looking forward to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025), the Southern Women's Museum has welcomed many individuals and organizations to visit the museum, including a special guest, female veteran Le Thi Kieu, born in 1940, from Tien Giang, belonging to the 20th Communications Unit, who fought and died in the resistance war and understood the great value of peace and independence.

During the museum tour, she shared directly about her wartime memories, especially her role in the 20th Communications Unit - a particularly important force in the task of transmitting orders and protecting strategic information lines during the resistance war against the US to save the country. For her nephew, who was born and raised in Australia, to understand more about the spirit of "determined to die to protect the line", which Ms. Kieu told through touching stories about the silent sacrifices of her comrades, including soldiers who fell while performing the task of repairing and connecting the line sabotaged by the enemy so that their country could have peace as it is today.

During the war, communications played an extremely important role. The communications system had to ensure timely transmission of orders to open fire to the localities and battlefields, contributing effectively to the victory of the army and people in the country. According to the direction of the superiors, revolutionary soldiers, even if they had to sacrifice themselves, had to ensure that the communication lines between the Central and the important areas and regions were not interrupted. With the spirit of suicide, the soldiers of her communications unit 20, before receiving the task of repairing and reconnecting the radio communication lines damaged by enemy sabotage, the soldiers only had time to look at each other one last time, implicitly confirming that they would separate when the enemy discovered them. There were communication lines that were connected by the blood of fallen soldiers.

In the exhibition space of “Southern Women through the Two Resistance Wars”, Mrs. Le Thi Kieu’s voice choked up, her tears fell as she told her grandchild about her comrades – female soldiers who fought, did mass mobilization work, sheltered cadres and protected the people. Her voice choked up when talking about the past, but she was also full of pride when affirming that her choice to join the revolution was something she “never regretted” when looking back at the resistance relics on display. To have today’s peace, that day generations of grandparents paid with blood and tears, recalling the past she smiled proudly and had no regrets when choosing to join the resistance. Through those stories, her grandchild was extremely surprised by the miraculous achievements of Vietnamese women and admired her respected grandmother even more. Although she was far away, she was still proud of the patriotism of the Vietnamese people and also deeply felt the patriotism and indomitable will of Vietnamese women.

Ms. Le Thi Kieu inspires pride, gratitude and revolutionary tradition for the young generation

at the Southern Women's Museum

Through the visit to the Southern Women's Museum, it is not only personal, but also a journey to pass on historical memories, review revolutionary traditions to remember comrades and comrades who fell on the battlefields, regain independence and freedom for the Fatherland and inspiration for life. The "fire-inspiring" stories from witnesses like Ms. Kieu help today's young generation - those who inherit peace from the sacrifices of previous generations. Contribute to arousing a sense of responsibility and gratitude in young people, thereby having a deeper awareness of love for the country, their role and responsibility in contributing to the development of the country. This affirms the role of the museum not only as a place to preserve artifacts, but also as a center for historical - ethical education with a high community spirit.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025) and the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Southern Women's Museum (April 29, 1985 - April 29, 2025), the Southern Women's Museum is implementing the theme "40-year journey - stories from artifacts" on display from April 18, 2025 - July 18, 2025, introducing to visitors the heritage memories associated with the revolutionary struggle movement, as well as the role of women in the cause of defending and building the country. The selected artifacts are highly symbolic, thereby vividly recreating a heroic historical period demonstrating the spirit of patriotism and heroic struggle of the Vietnamese army and people to regain independence and freedom for the nation.

With 40 years of establishment and development, the Southern Women's Museum has affirmed its position as a cultural and educational center that plays a role in spreading traditional values and patriotism, while contributing to fostering civic awareness and will continue to promote revolutionary traditions in the process of innovation and national development, enhancing the sense of responsibility and gratitude, arousing pride in revolutionary traditions, helping the younger generation better understand the value of peace and independence.