According to a representative from the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in TP HCM, the program will take place on 13-14/6. It aims to uphold Vietnamese Buddhism's tradition of "protecting the nation and bringing peace to the people," coinciding with the 79th anniversary of Invalids and Martyrs' Day.
On the afternoon of 13/6, monks, nuns, and city Buddhists will attend a Ksitigarbha sutra recitation ceremony at the park. The following morning, a memorial service for the souls of martyrs and patriotic compatriots will be held.
At 13:30 on the same day, a Trai Dan Chan Te (offering and requiem ceremony) for martyrs and patriotic compatriots will be conducted. Most Venerable Thich Le Trang, Vice Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and Head of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in TP HCM, will preside over the ceremony.
 |
Most Venerable Thich Le Trang, Head of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in TP HCM, participated in a survey at Le Thi Rieng Park on the morning of 8/6, alongside Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra. *Photo: Thu Giang*
The memorial service coincides with intensified efforts to search for and gather the remains of martyrs at the former Do Thanh Cemetery. Archival photos show the burial of martyrs and compatriots who died during the Mau Than 1968 Offensive in mass graves at this site. Based on these, the TP HCM Command issued a call for witnesses to help identify locations for recovery efforts.
Most Venerable Thich Le Trang is a key witness, providing information to authorities. He spent a long time studying and serving as abbot at Dinh Thanh Pagoda, near the former Do Thanh Cemetery. He frequently visited the area to assist people with spiritual rituals. His experiences allowed him to provide information on the terrain, structure, and former condition of the cemetery area.
At a workshop on 8/6 to verify information for searching martyr graves in Le Thi Rieng Park, a representative from the Department of Operations, General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, stated that the research team identified three mass grave trenches within the park. These are believed to contain the remains of approximately 900 martyrs and compatriots.
These locations are near the traditional house, children's play area, and fishing pond. The grave trench measuring about 500 m2 behind the traditional house, near the fishing pond, is considered the most viable site for search operations.
Last November, the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in TP HCM also collaborated with the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hoa Hung ward. They organized a requiem and memorial service for martyrs, soldiers, and compatriots previously buried at the former Do Thanh Cemetery.
Le Tuyet
