Active search and repatriation for martyrs' remains
In the two resistances against French colonialism and American imperialism, Binh Duong had 16,560 martyrs who sacrificed; 4,939 veterans, 1,049 sick soldiers, tens of thousands of compatriots were killed, arrested, imprisoned, tortured, etc.
Although the war has passed for nearly half a century, the pains and losses remain. Every day, the information on the search for martyrs' remains lost in the war has been always delivered on the media. The remains of heroic soldiers who sacrificed for the Fatherland are still somewhere in the heart of the river, among the deep forests, etc. It is an inconsolable grief for the martyrs' families and also the torment and responsibility of today's generation.
Over the past years, Binh Duong has always made great efforts in search and repatriation for martyrs' remains and considered it as a major task in the work of gratitude, contributing to ease the pain for families and relatives of martyrs. From 2015 to the present, the province has gathered 308 martyrs' remains and held a memorial and burial ceremony for martyrs at local cemeteries in the province.
Binh Duong organizes a memorial and burial ceremony for martyrs who sacrificed in Village 10 - Dau Tieng, now Dong Trai hamlet, Dinh Hiep commune, Dau Tieng district, Dau Tieng Martyrs Cemetery
Forever gratitude
In every war, there are losses and sacrifices. In the nation's happiness on a victorious day, there are mothers and wives quietly wiping their tears when their husbands and their children are on the battlefield forever. 2.136 of Vietnamese Heroic Mothers of Binh Duong Province is a symbol of the indomitable, brave, and loyal spirit of Binh Duong land and people. History always records the merits of mothers who dedicate to the Fatherland the brave children for lasting national independence. Great merits, losses and sacrifices for the Fatherland of the Vietnamese Heroic Mothers will be irreparable. However, with deep affection and gratitude, the Party committees, authorities and people always pay attention to the Vietnamese Heroic Mothers through practical activities in material and spiritual life.
The Provincial Youth Union visits and gives gifts to Vietnamese Heroic Mothers Pham Thi Truu, Thuan An City
In addition to the preferential regimes of the State, there are many gratitude activities for the Mothers such as assigning agencies and units to give life-long care and support to the Mothers who are still alive, frequent visit and console them in the holidays, New Year or during illness.
Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Tran Van Nam visits and presents gifts to Mrs. Vo Thi Uoc, martyr's daughter in Chanh My ward, Thu Dau Mot City
Binh Duong province determines that the work of gratitude not only demonstrates the good morality of our nation but also contributes to healing the wounds of war, cultivating and promoting the patriotic tradition and directing towards the roots for generations. According to specific data, Binh Duong Province has made remarkable efforts in the work of gratitude based on a combination of three resources: State, community and policy beneficiaries making great efforts. Accordingly, the material and spiritual life of policy beneficiaries has been increasingly improved. The good news is that, up to now, 99.92% of the people with merits to the revolution in the province have a living standard equal to or higher than the average living standard of people living in the same residence. According to the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Binh Duong is one of the first two provinces to reach the target that 100% of communes, wards and towns are recognized by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to "well perform the gratitude work for veterans, martyrs and people with meritorious services" and this title has been maintained up to now. Binh Duong province has so far established records and settled policies for over 64,000 people with meritorious services. Specifically, the monthly preferential benefits are paid for 7,900 subjects, with the amount of over VND 14.1 billion/ month. In addition, Binh Duong is one of the localities that well perform the activities of building houses, supporting relatives, children of war invalids, martyrs, sponsoring poor households and policy beneficiaries. From 1997 up to now, the localities in the province have built and repaired over 6,600 gratitude houses for people with meritorious services to the revolution, with a total budget of over VND 148 billion.
Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs co-ordinates with the Lottery Company Limited donating the gratitude houses to policy beneficiaries
Along with the leading role of the State, a great deal of resources in the community has been mobilized for the work of caring for war invalids, martyrs and people with meritorious services, creating a wide spread. In 2019, the whole province mobilized a contribution of over VND 5.4 billion to the "Gratitude" Fund. Especially, on the occasion of the 73rd anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs' Day (July 27, 1947 - July 27, 2020), it is expected that the budget for the subjects will be over VND 17 billion (about VND 3.7 billion from Central Government and about VND 14 billion from the province).
Mrs. Nguyen Ngoc Hang - Deputy Director of Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs said: "The anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs- July 27 is an opportunity for the whole Party and people, our military to promote tradition and morality: "When drinking water, remember who dug the well" to continue promoting care and gratitude towards the people with meritorious services to the revolution. The Department advised the Provincial People's Committee to organize the provincial leadership delegation to visit and present gifts to people with meritorious services to the revolution. At the same time, the Department should coordinate with departments and branches to organize a ceremony to visit the provincial Martyrs' Cemetery and coordinate with the Provincial Youth Union to light candles to express gratitude to heroic martyrs at the graves in Binh Duong Province's cemeteries and organize the construction and handover of gratitude houses to people with meritorious services to the revolution".
In addition, the Department also organized checking and evaluating the situation of implementing policies for people with meritorious services to the revolution in localities, especially the work of improving the lives of policy beneficiaries in order to maintain the title "Communes and wards well perform the gratitude work to war invalids, martyrs and people with meritorious services", ensuring that 100% of communes, wards and townships will reach this title. The Department instructs localities to consider the typical war invalids and martyrs' families to propose People's Committees of districts, towns and cities to recognize the "Model Citizens" and "Exemplary Revolutionary Family" titles; and praise the units and individuals who have made a lot of contributions to the "Gratitude" movement.
Practical activities to take care of the material and spiritual life of policy beneficiaries in Binh Duong helped to heal the pain after the war and educate young generation towards the nation's roots.