The Australian Ambassador emotionally attended the mass burial of martyrs in Binh Duong

On April 26, former President Nguyen Minh Triet, leaders of Binh Duong province, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski, representatives of competent agencies and a large number of people attended the memorial and peace ceremony. Mass burial of martyrs in Binh Duong.

The martyrs of Division 7 and its affiliated units heroically sacrificed their lives in May 1968 at Bau Hang, now Choi Dung hamlet, Binh My commune, Bac Tan Uyen district, Binh Duong province.

After more than half a century, the mass grave of the martyrs was found and brought to the Martyrs Cemetery of Binh Duong province in a solemn ceremony with many special features.

A particularly touching point is that the martyrs were found in a mass grave, the remains of dozens of martyrs were mixed together, so when they were buried in the cemetery, the martyrs were also buried together. a grave.

Another special thing is that the mass grave of martyrs was found through the coordination of Vietnamese authorities and information from Australian veterans (who participated in the US military), the coordination of foreign agencies. delivered to Vietnam and Australia.

After many years, veterans on the other side of the battle line worried and reported the news to search for Vietnamese martyrs.

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski and many veterans attended the memorial service, visitation ceremony, burial and incense burning at the collective graves of martyrs. This is also a special point as it is the rare time a foreign ambassador attends the memorial service for Vietnamese martyrs.

“Fifty-six years have passed since that day, more than half a century of heroes’ bodies lying in the womb of mother earth. The exhumed martyrs left behind only scattered bones, skulls and memorabilia. Their luggage on the return day was only rubber slippers, cardboard bottles, lighters… and pieces of nylon and umbrellas that were not intact due to time.

Those souvenirs followed you to the end of this great national defense war.” – Eulogy read by Mr. Nguyen Loc Ha – Vice Chairman of Binh Duong Provincial People’s Committee at the memorial ceremony.

Dozens of relatives of the martyrs and former comrades, upon hearing the news, traveled thousands of kilometers from the Northern provinces and from many provinces and cities to the Binh Duong Provincial Martyrs’ Cemetery.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thang (sister of martyr Nguyen Van Ha, from Thai Binh province, born in 1946, one of the martyrs who died in 1968) said she was very grateful and touched when her relative finally died. was found and laid to rest.

Tears fell. Everyone was emotional when attending the ceremony, especially when the martyrs were found and buried on the occasion of the 49th year of national unification (April 30, 1975 – April 30, 2024).