Sacred relics return from halfway around the world

On the evening of April 27, in the program "Forever the Triumphant Resounds" broadcast on VTV, the sacred relics of martyr Kha Van Viet (from Yen Tinh commune, Tuong Duong district, Nghe An) were returned to his family by an American veteran after more than half a century of wandering in a foreign land.

The small box opened in the middle of the stage, leaving the audience speechless with emotion. Inside were simple but priceless items, such as: identity cards, award notices, Youth Union activity introduction papers, injury certificates, stamps, etc.

The only portrait of martyr Kha Van Viet is the first memento his family has seen in nearly 60 years since his death (Photo: Dinh Tuan).

Especially the only portrait of the martyr, which for over 50 years, his relatives have never seen.

Martyr Kha Van Viet was the third child in a Thai family of eight children in Pa Ty village, Yen Tinh commune, Tuong Duong district. At the age of 17, he joined the army and fought at the Khe Sanh front (Quang Tri province).

Identity card of martyr Kha Van Viet (Photo: Dinh Tuan).

In 1967, at the age of 20, he heroically sacrificed himself in a fierce battle. Since then, apart from the death certificate and the Certificate of Merit, the family has no other mementos or information.

That day, in the middle of the fierce Khe Sanh battlefield, an American soldier picked up a small box. He brought it back.

The commendation notice of martyr Kha Van Viet is proof of his spirit of studying, training and dedication before joining the army (Photo: Dinh Tuan).

Fearing his old age and poor health, he proactively contacted organizations in Vietnam, expressing his wish to return these sacred relics to the martyrs' relatives.

Mr. Luong Thanh Hien, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Yen Tinh Commune, and also the son-in-law of the family of martyr Kha Van Viet, said: "After many years of searching, the family suddenly received a notice from a reporter of Vietnam Television about some information related to martyr Viet. After that, the reporter went directly to the locality to verify and compare the data and relics kept abroad. When they found a match, they confirmed that it was the relic of martyr Kha Van Viet.

Ms. Kha Thi Loan, the biological sister of martyr Kha Van Viet, was moved when opening the box containing her brother's sacred relics after nearly 60 years of being lost (Photo: Dinh Tuan).

On April 27, my family was invited to Hanoi to directly receive the priceless souvenirs from the TV program "Vang mai khuc khai trien". It was a special and sacred moment, not only for our family but also the emotion of the whole Yen Tinh hometown".

"From now on, children and grandchildren can burn incense in front of their brother's photo."

On the day of receiving the relics, family representatives including Mr. Hien, Mr. Kha Duong Tien (son of the martyr), and Mr. Kha Van Thin (nephew) personally stepped onto the stage to receive the box. Afterwards, the relics were brought to Mr. Thin's family in Pa Ty village for solemn worship.

The house where martyrs are worshiped has become a destination for local people in recent days. Everyone is moved when witnessing the "pieces" of memories from the old battlefields returning, connecting the past with the present.

The Certificate of Injury and Death Certificate of Martyr Kha Van Viet are sacred documents, recording the final milestone in his heroic fighting life (Photo: Dinh Tuan).

Mr. Luong Thanh Hien added: "Now, my children and grandchildren know their uncle's face, no longer having to imagine vaguely. My family is truly grateful to the person who preserved and returned these precious things.

We hope that with the information in the documents and portraits, the authorities will have more basis to find the graves of Vietnamese martyrs, something that generations of families have never stopped hoping for."

Ms. Kha Thi Loan, the sister of martyr Kha Van Viet, emotionally said: "My family would like to express our gratitude to the person who preserved and returned these priceless relics. They are not only personal artifacts, but also sacred symbols associated with the memories and souls of the deceased. From now on, our children and grandchildren can burn incense in front of our brother's photo, something we never dared to think of for decades."

"Martyr Kha Van Viet is the pride of the locality. The family receiving the relic after nearly 60 years not only has great spiritual significance, but is also an opportunity to remind the younger generation of patriotism, of the noble sacrifice and the value of peace today," said Mr. Lu Kham Phon, Chairman of Yen Tinh Commune People's Committee.

The house where martyr Kha Van Viet is worshiped in Pa Ty village has become a place to preserve sacred memories and a spiritual support for the family (Photo: Dinh Tuan).

Mr. Vi Tan Hoi, former Vice Chairman of Tuong Duong District People's Committee, who spent many years quietly searching for information about martyr Kha Van Viet, still remembers clearly the special journey to take the martyr's sister to the fiery land of Khe Sanh, where her younger brother fell in the middle of a fierce battle.

"That day, she stood choking with emotion in the middle of the ancient forest, where many Vietnamese people had fallen. During that battle, my teacher and an uncle's son also sacrificed themselves. Another person was lucky to survive but was disabled for life," Mr. Hoi said.

The Youth Union activity introduction paper of martyr Kha Van Viet is one of the sacred relics kept for decades (Photo: Dinh Tuan).

Recalling the sacred moment when he witnessed the martyr's family receiving the relic on television, Mr. Hoi shared: "On the evening of April 27, when watching the program "Vang mai khuc khai trien" (Forever the Triumphant Resounding), when the family stepped forward to receive the sacred relic, I could not hold back my tears.

During the 10 years of working in charge of the district's cultural and social fields, we have sent many petitions and contacted agencies to seek information, but have not had any results. Now, when the relics have returned to the family, it is a great comfort, as if Mr. Viet has returned after many years away."

The relics of martyr Kha Van Viet are like sacred pieces, connecting the heroic past with the peaceful present (Photo: Dinh Tuan).

The act of the American veteran, who once stood on the other side of the battle line, carefully preserving the relics for decades and then returning them to the martyrs' relatives is a very humane gesture; contributing to healing the wounds of war, spreading the message of peace and friendship between nations.

During the resistance war against the US, Yen Tinh commune was a locality with many contributions and was bombed by the US. The whole commune had 120 people enlisted, 16 martyrs, 10 wounded soldiers, and was awarded 25 medals and 3 collective medals by the State.

Dantri.com.vn

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/lao-dong-viec-lam/tam-anh-chan-dung-thay-liet-sy-tro-ve-sau-nua-the-ky-luu-lac-tren-dat-my-20250501222916323.htm