Whenever March comes, people across Vietnam turn their hearts to Gac Ma Reef of Truong Sa archipelago, a sacred territorial part of the Fatherland, to pay tribute to officers and soldiers who heroically fought until their last breath for the country’s maritime sovereignty.
Vietnamese naval soldiers in a training session. Generations of soldiers guarding the Truong Sa archipelago have been performing duties around the clock to safeguard the country's maritime sovereignty and territorial integrity (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) –Whenever March comes, people across Vietnam turn their hearts to Gac Ma Reef ofTruong Sa archipelago, a sacred territorial part of the Fatherland, to paytribute to officers and soldiers who heroically fought until their last breathfor the country’s maritime sovereignty.
The March 14, 1988 event,which was associated with Gac Ma, Co Lin, and Len Dao reefs, has becomeimmortal in the struggle for independence and freedom of Vietnam.
In the mainland, a memorialsite for the Gac Ma officers and soldiers was inaugurated in July 2017 in CamHai Dong commune of central Khanh Hoa province’s Cam Lam district. It isdedicated to the 64 naval officers and soldiers of Vietnam who bravelysacrificed their lives at the dawn of March 14, 1988.
Themed “Those who falling onthe horizon”, the site’s highlight is the “Immortal Circle” symbolcommemorating the Gac Ma soldiers.
The area is a place forpeople to not only pay homage to the heroes but also remind and educate youngergenerations about the heart-rending event in Vietnam’s history.
The inauguration ceremony of the memorial site dedicated to the 64 Gac Ma officers and soldiers on July 15, 2017 (Photo: VNA)
On the country’s sovereignwaters, Sinh Ton island houses a pagoda with a stele featuring the names of the64 persons laying down their lives at sea 33 years ago. Since the beginning ofMarch, a large number of officers, soldiers, residents in Truong Sa township,and fishermen working nearby have come to offer incense and pray to the martyrs.
The pagoda holds a requiemfor the heroes in front of the stele every March 14. Apart from this date, SinhTon islanders also visit the pagoda on the first and 15th days ofeach lunar month, as well as traditional festivals to commemorate the martyrsand pray for the country’s peace and development.
The commemoration in March isa demonstration of Vietnamese people’s tradition of expressing gratitude tothose falling down for the sake of the country’s maritime sovereignty andterritorial integrity. It also illustrates the people’s thousands-of-yearsunanimity and resolve to safeguard the Fatherland.
Nowadays, the officers andsoldiers performing duties on the islands, reefs, and platforms on thecountry’s territorial waters are following former generations’ example, stayingready to sacrifice their lives to firmly defend the maritime sovereignty and betrustworthy supports for people at sea./.
Vietnam demands that relevant countries respect its sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction in the East Sea, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang said on January 29. Hang made the request in response to reporters’ query regarding the adoption of the Coast Guard Law by the Chinese National People’s Congress Standing Committee on January 22.
“The State of Vietnam was the first state in history to exercise its sovereignty over the two archipelagos of Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) since they were ownerless pieces of land, at least since the 17th century. Vietnam has sufficient historical evidence that has legal value to testify to its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa,” an expert has said.
33 years ago, on March 14 1988, 64 Vietnamese soldiers sacrificed their lives in the battle of protecting Gac Ma (Johnson South), Colin and Len Dao (Lansdowne) Reefs, part of the Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago.
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Vietnamese naval soldiers in a training session. Generations of soldiers guarding the Truong Sa archipelago have been performing duties around the clock to safeguard the country's maritime sovereignty and territorial integrity (Photo: VNA) 
The inauguration ceremony of the memorial site dedicated to the 64 Gac Ma officers and soldiers on July 15, 2017 (Photo: VNA) 
