Old couple sailed to Truong Sa

They are Mr. Le Trong Cat (72 years old) and his wife, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha (66 years old), residing in Xa Dan 2 alley (Nam Dong street, Dong Da district, Hanoi). In the delegation of more than 200 delegates, Mr. Cat is the oldest and perhaps one of the rare people in their 80s who still venture to Truong Sa, because this is a difficult and challenging journey.

Not only did they bravely walk, but they were also a very active couple participating in youth activities jointly organized by the Central Youth Union and the Navy Command throughout the journey. On the first night on the ship, when there was a cultural exchange to celebrate the Vietnam People's Navy's Traditional Day, although hundreds of people were seasick and could not attend the program, they still appeared on stage to perform with the delegates. In particular, Mr. Cat and his wife were very excited to participate in the competitions on the ship with impressive performances. When participating in the "perfect couple" competition, they went on stage to perform in sign language and said that it was the sentence: "We love Truong Sa" of the deaf.

Mrs. Ha shared that she and her husband used to be teachers of deaf children, so they understand the hardships of these children. With this trip to Truong Sa, the couple will return to spread information about Truong Sa to the deaf, so that no one does not know about Truong Sa.

Talking about the journey to Truong Sa, Mrs. Ha confided that she and her husband often go to border areas and islands together because they have a great love for these places. "My husband was a soldier, we have experienced wars so we understand the losses and pain of the nation and the hardships of soldiers. Although we are old, we still hope to set foot on Truong Sa, a sacred part of the Fatherland, to encourage the soldiers who are doing the noble task of maintaining sovereignty on the remote islands," Mrs. Ha shared.

Spread love for the sea and islands

Despite their advanced age, the two elders visited all the destinations on the journey and did not miss any island. During rough seas, the canoe carrying the delegates to the island was pushed up high by the waves and then buried in the sea, but the two elders still steadfastly overcame the waves to reach the 7 islands. Even the rig house was the most difficult point because it was not easy to access and very dangerous for those with a fear of heights, but the two elders still overcame themselves to climb up and return safely.

"Before going, we learned from many people who had gone before, so we prepared medicine and exercised. Even though our legs hurt, we were determined to go and not miss any point, because we definitely had to get there and were happy to get to Truong Sa," the old man excitedly said.

After visiting the islands, the old lady was moved and said: "When we arrived here, we were very impressed with the spirit of the soldiers and the people, because on the remote front line, communication with people is very difficult, but they are very resilient, brave, and steadfast in protecting the Fatherland". The old man also shared that despite his old age, when he saw the young people, he felt like he had crossed Truong Son to fight.

"The hardships and difficulties now are even greater than in the past. In Truong Son, I still had the opportunity to communicate with many people, but here I cannot. They have to be far from their families, far from the mainland and live with the sea. The will, determination and sacrifice of the soldiers here are incomparable," Mr. Cat shared tearfully.

Mr. Ha said that with what he has experienced, he will return to tell his children and grandchildren and the younger generation about his gratitude and appreciation for those who were willing to sacrifice to protect the country. "I have filmed and taken many touching pictures. After returning, I will gather my family and friends, tell about my journey and share my love for the sea and islands," said Mr. Ha.

Bringing Truong Sa to the mainland

In the delegation, a young man caused great emotion with his poems about Truong Sa.

That is Ms. Dao Thi Ha My (30 years old), Director of NAMY Company Limited (Da Nang). She won first prize in the contest "Composing literature, poetry, songs about Truong Sa in me" launched by the Central Youth Union on the ship. In the poem Last Night in Song Tu Tay, the female "poet" depicted the bravery of soldiers on the remote island when they guarded day and night to protect sovereignty. In the middle of the vast ocean, they spent their night shifts with only "spot" (the dog's name - PV) as companion and the scent of the square-flowered Indian almond tree wafting in the sea breeze. Despite being sad, they still firmly held their guns and were ready to fight and sacrifice to protect the sovereignty of the Fatherland.

During her journey to the island, she composed dozens of poems to give to the soldiers. Every time she arrived on the island, she went to each soldier's room and placed a small gift on each person's bedside, which could be a notebook, a pen, or a pretty key chain with very touching dedications such as: "Pretty gifts to overcome the storms. Reach Truong Sa. I hope you will stay with me. Be steadfast in the face of storms"; "Hello, my most beautiful children. Of the sea, of the sky and land of Vietnam. Strong in will like the starlight of the military rank. Beautiful in soul like the blue of the sea"...

"I have wanted to go to Truong Sa for a long time, stemming from my love for the sea and islands and my gratitude for the marine soldiers, but that feeling is just "theoretical". I want to experience reality, to turn my feelings into action and have projects for Truong Sa", said Ms. My.

The female "poet" also shared that her hometown is Nghe An, but she studied and graduated from Da Nang University, then started her career in Da Nang with an event organization job and a fresh flower shop. As a young person, she wants to express her love for Truong Sa in her own way.

"My business partners are young customers, young businesses, and small traders who rarely have access to propaganda programs about the sea and islands. Therefore, I want to incorporate images of the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa islands into my products, so that people will understand more about the sea and islands. For example, each flower basket sent to customers will have the names of the islands of the Truong Sa archipelago attached," she shared, at the same time expressing her desire to raise funds for Truong Sa and launch her works to bring Truong Sa to the mainland.

Not just an idea, right after returning from Truong Sa, she connected with entrepreneurs and businesses to accompany Navy Region 3, to be a support for fishermen to go offshore and stick to the sea such as: sponsoring orphaned fishermen's children; giving gifts and scholarships to children of fishermen in difficulty; visiting and giving gifts to armed units on duty at the front lines of the Fatherland... "From Truong Sa, I saw more clearly my mission, not only to develop the economy to contribute to my homeland, but also to kindle love for the country for those around me, through concrete actions", Ms. My shared. (to be continued)