Since September 15, Da Nang, which has the largest number of martyrs’ graves requiring DNA sampling, has excavated and collected biological samples from nearly 26,000 martyrs’ graves at 144 local cemeteries.
Completing the work ahead of the rainy season will minimize weather-related difficulties. The city has also recovered 61 new sets of martyrs’ remains and is continuing to verify information and expand the search area, determined to follow every clue and ensure that time does not erase the chance of finding and identifying individuals who gave up their life for the Fatherland.
During the “500-Day-and-Night Campaign to Search for, Recover, and Identify Martyrs’ Remains”, Phu Tho province has sampled nearly 4,700 martyrs’ graves at 128 cemeteries, reaching 100% of its first-phase target. The province has handed more than 4,000 samples to the Military Forensic Institute.
Last weekend, a ceremony was held at Gia Lam airport in Hanoi, where Ho Chi Minh City, and Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, and Lam Dong province handed over more than 13,500 samples from martyrs’ remains to the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and the Military Forensic Institute for DNA identification.
Tay Ninh submitted more than 4,600 samples collected from martyrs’ cemeteries in the province and from battlefields in Cambodia. Colonel Bui Dang Ninh, Political Commissar of the provincial Military Command, said: “We hope the DNA tests will produce positive results and identify the fallen soldiers. This is the hope of their families and their comrades.”
This was the second time biological samples of martyrs’ remains have been brought from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi for DNA testing. A flight on August 21 brought more than 7,000 samples.
Major General Nguyen Huy Tuan, Deputy Political Commissar of the Air Defence-Air Force Service, said: “To continue implementing the 500-day-and-night campaign, we will continue coordination with relevant parties to ensure that samples are transported as promptly, efficiently, carefully, and respectfully as possible.”
The effort to identify martyrs’ remains is being intensified nationwide. It’s an important task that reflects Vietnam’s tradition of “When drinking water, remember its source.”
