Lieutenant General Lê Chiêm, Deputy Minister of Defence, welcomes a Vietnamese heroic mother at Friday's meeting in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI — A total of 300 Vietnamese heroic mothers from across the country gathered in Hà Nội on Friday in a first-of-its-kind meeting held by the Ministry of Defence.

The meeting was held as part of a series of activities to show the Vietnamese Communist Party, State and people’s respect for the invaluable sacrifices and contributions the heroic mothers made, ahead of War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27).

The 300 participants, many of them around 100 years old, represented the nearly 5,000 Vietnamese mothers who are still alive out of the 139,000 who have received the titles from the Government. 

Speaking at the meeting, Lieutenant General Lê Chiêm, Deputy Minister of Defence, expressed his honour and joy in welcoming the heroic mothers, stressing that the history of Việt Nam’s nation-building is marked by a long-standing tradition of repelling outside enemies to uphold the country’s sovereignty and independence.

The Vietnamese heroic mothers delegation visit the Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Anh Tuấn

The resistance wars against the French, the Americans and border wars in the 20th century had attested to the fact, Chiêm said.

Heeding the call of the motherland, many generations of Vietnamese people have sacrificed their lives, bodies and youth on the battlefields, becoming shining symbols of Việt Nam’s revolutionary heroism, the defence official continued.

Việt Nam has nearly 1.2 million martyrs, the remains of 200,000 of whom have never been found, 300,000 sets of remains are still unidentified, while many others who survived the wars are suffering from diseases and trauma.

“But the greatest sacrifices and losses above all are the silent sacrifices by Vietnamese heroic mothers, who have watched their dearest sons and daughters lay down their lives for the liberation of the country,” Chiêm said, stressing that their sacrifices would be remembered and treasured by generations to come.

The Government and people have always paid attention to implementing social policies for martyrs and all those who have made contributions to the revolution, including Vietnamese heroic mothers, to lift their living standards.

The military is currently taking care of 2,867 Vietnamese heroic mothers, with practical activities such as gifting houses, saving accounts, free medical examinations and treatment, according to Chiêm.

Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwomen greeted and presented gifts to the 300 Vietnamese heroic mothers on Friday in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đức

Earlier in the morning, the 300 heroic mothers paid tributes to the late President Hồ Chí Minh at his mausoleum in Hà Nội.

Also yesterday afternoon, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân met with the mothers, who she described as “silent soldiers” during the struggle for national defence.

According to the chief legislator, the NA Standing Committee is scheduled to hear a Government report on the amendment of incentives for contributors to the country, including Vietnamese heroic mothers.

Tributes to contributors to the country have also received a warm response from the community, she added, urging ministries, especially the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), agencies, and localities to take better care of the group, particularly Heroic Vietnamese Mothers.

Previously on Thursday night, labour minister Đào Ngọc Dung held a gala dinner for the heroic mothers.

“Being able to sit down and have this dinner with the Vietnamese heroic mothers is our utmost honour. This is one of the rare chances we can meet many of you and express our gratitude,” Dung said.  — VNS