(VOVworld) - The Vietnamese people have a tradition of paying debts of gratitude and remembering those who sacrificed themselves for national construction and defence. On the founding anniversary of the Association of Young Volunteers on July 15, VOV reporter Thu Hang tells a story about some former female volunteers.

Former Young volunteers receive gifts from PM Nguyen Tan Dung in Quang Binh province

Pham Thi Thao, one of the armed forces’ heroines and former head of female transport battalion 232, never forgets stories of her comrades-in-arms. She says nothing of herself but of her friends who are lost forever during the fight for national independence and freedom. As Chairwoman of Da Nang city’s Association of Former Young Volunteers, she devotes herself to raising funds to support former young volunteers, including nearly 20 charity houses worth nearly 30 thousand USD:“We are implementing Prime Ministerial decree No 40, which provides more support and incentives to former young volunteers. We want the Party, state and government to support more for those who rendered great service to the nation.”

Thao, who is also a war invalid, has been tireless in her efforts to find her comrades’ remains. When a set of remain is found and buried, Thao and her living comrades feel consoled.

After years of fighting for the nation, the former female volunteers are now working to help each other in daily life as they did during war time. The Association of Former Young Volunteers in Tan Ky district, Nghe An province, has helped to build a house worth more than 2 thousand USD for Hoang Thi Huong, a young volunteer during the war with America. Huong has been living in house for one year now. She said: “I am very grateful to the Party, state, former comrades and the people, who have supported me with this lovely house. I am very happy. My contribution has been acknowledged by the state.”

Young volunteers take care of martyrs' cemetery in Quang Tri province

The district Association of Former Young Volunteers has also built 6 other charity houses for its members over the last 6 years. Tran Thi Tam, the Association’s Chairwoman of, spent all her teenage years on the battlefield. Now during peace time, she is still obsessed with how to improve the lives and living conditions for her comrades. So far, her association and the district fatherland front have raised funds to build 7 houses worth nearly 20 thousand USD for its former volunteers. Tam says the association has nearly 1 thousand members and only 5% of them are poor or the disadvantaged: “Our association tries to build charity houses or repair our members’ dilapidated houses. We also try to improve their living standards by helping them access loans for animal husbandry and production.

Nearly 4 decades ago, a large number of young girls volunteered for the front, leaving behind them dreams of education, happiness and love. Many of them never returned. Now those who are lucky enough to survive, pledge to live the rest of their lives for their beloved comrades-in-arms.