The commemoration was attended by Party General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Permanent Member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu, and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Do Van Chien.

Former Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and former National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung also attended. The delegation's wreath bore the inscription, "Eternal gratitude to the great President Ho Chi Minh".

Current and former party and state leaders lay a wreath and pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh on the morning of 24/7. Photo: Nhat Bac

Current and former party and state leaders lay a wreath and pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh on the morning of 24/7. Photo: Nhat Bac

Afterwards, the delegation laid a wreath and offered incense at the Martyrs' Memorial on Bac Son street. Their wreath carried the inscription, "Eternal gratitude to the fallen heroes".

On the same morning, delegations from the Central Military Commission - Ministry of National Defense; the Party Committee of the Public Security Central Committee - Ministry of Public Security; the Ministry of Home Affairs; the Hanoi Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee also laid wreaths and paid tribute to the fallen heroes at the Bac Son street memorial and visited President Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum.

The commemoration took place on the 78th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs' Day (27/7/1947).

Current and former party and state leaders offer incense at the Martyrs' Memorial. Photo: Nhat Bac

Current and former party and state leaders offer incense at the Martyrs' Memorial. Photo: Nhat Bac

In an article on 23/7, Party General Secretary To Lam emphasized that the tradition of "remembering the source when drinking water" is a sacred bond connecting generations and a source of spiritual strength for the nation to overcome difficulties and build an increasingly prosperous and civilized country. He stated that the nation's more than 4,000 years of history "is an eternal epic of patriotism, indomitable will, and unwavering fighting spirit, and a tribute from the living to those who dedicated their lives to the country."

He affirmed that there would be no Vietnam today, no innovative, developing, and deeply integrated Vietnam without the sweat and blood of generations of revolutionary soldiers, youth volunteers, civilian laborers on the front lines, and mothers and fathers who willingly encouraged their children to go to war and bore the hardships and losses with the spirit of "determined to die for the Fatherland to live" and "everything for the front lines".

Therefore, the General Secretary requested that preferential policies for those with meritorious services to the nation be fully and promptly implemented, without formalism. Agencies need to review and improve policies towards fairness and transparency, extending them to those who have made real contributions but have not been properly recognized, and reforming administrative procedures in certification and settlement of benefits.

Focusing resources on improving the material and spiritual lives of those with meritorious service, especially in remote areas, border areas, islands, and former revolutionary bases and war zones, needs to be prioritized. Localities should promote gratitude programs such as building and repairing gratitude houses, supporting healthcare, rehabilitation, vocational training, and creating sustainable jobs for children of those with meritorious service.

Vu Tuan