Ceremony marks 60th anniversary of 1954 evacuation

A ceremony was organised in Sam Son town, Thanh Hoa province to mark the 60th anniversary of the 1954 evacuation of people, officers, soldiers and students from the south to the north in accordance with the Geneva Accords on ending wars and restoring peace in Indochina.

President Truong Tan Sang and other delegates shovel soil to kick off the construction of the memorial site.

The ceremony saw the presence of State President Truong Tan Sang, former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan, and other officials and representatives of Vietnamese heroic mothers and evacuated people.

President Sang recounted how Thanh Hoa province welcomed 1,900 wounded soldiers, 47,346 officers and soldiers, 5,922 students and 1,443 revolutionary families, in order to prepare for the long-lasting revolutionary cause to liberate the south and contribute to the construction of socialism in the north.

Though devastated during the war against French colonialism, Thanh Hoa province did its best to receive the evacuated people and ensure care and training of officers and students, who went on to make great contributions to develop socialism in the north, liberate the south and unify the country, President Sang said.

The State leader praised the great contributions of local residents and authorities and extended his greetings to families and relatives of evacuated people, saying that the country still needs their patriotism to overcome challenges in national construction and defense.

Earlier, President Sang visited the construction site of Nguyet Vien bridge (part of a project on the expansion of Highway 1A); the province’s exhibition centre; and the exhibition site of ornamental plants at Lam Son square, Thanh Hoa city. He also attended the launching ceremony of the construction of a memorial site for the historical evacuation at Hoi port, Quang Tien ward, Sam Son town.

(Source: nhandan.org.vn)