Exchange programme honours naval soldiers

An exchange programme, themed ’60 years of protecting the sea’, was held at the Cam Ranh military port in the central province of Khanh Hoa on May 4 for generations of naval officers and soldiers, as well as veterans and heroes of the people’s armed forces.

The naval veterans speaking at the programme (Credit: vov.vn)

The touching stories of veterans reproduced historic periods and the feats of arms of the Vietnam People's Navy in fighting against the large and modern, naval and air forces of the US, and transporting weapons from the north to the southern battlefields, significantly contributing to the cause of southern liberation and national reunification.

The veterans looked back on the victories of Vietnamese naval commando forces and the military campaign which liberated and took over the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago on April 29, 1975.

The participants also highlighted the great contributions and sacrifices of many generations of naval officers and soldiers to protecting Vietnam’s full sovereignty over its seas and islands.

A wide variety of arts performances praising the country’s sea, island and naval soldiers were also held during the programme.

In addition, the participants dropped flowers to commemorate naval martyrs and heroes who had sacrificed their lives to the cause of national protection.

On the same day, the Feast and Commemoration Festival for Hoang Sa (Paracel) flotilla soldiers (Le khao le the linh Hoang Sa) was held in the An Vinh communal temple, on Ly Son Island in the central province of Quang Ngai.

The annual festival is held to pay tribute to the predecessors those who left their homeland to protect the country’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes over the past three centuries.

(Source: nhandan.org.vn)