General Secretary To Lam speaks at the meeting. (Photo: Van Hieu/VOV)

Addressing the gathering, Party General Secretary To Lam said the event reflects the Vietnamese tradition of “when drinking water, remember its source” and is an occasion for the State and the entire society to express deep gratitude for generations of Vietnamese who sacrificed for national independence and freedom.

The Party leader said: “We pay gratitude to nearly 1.2 million martyrs who courageously volunteered, fought bravely, and sacrificed for the nation. Many were only 18 to 20 years old when they set aside their dreams, their studies, their families and loved ones in the rear to fulfill a sacred mission of building and defending the Fatherland, and protecting the peace and happiness of the people.”
President Luong Cuong and Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh present gifts to delegates, war invalids, and meritorious people... (Photo: Van Hieu/VOV)

The General Secretary reiterated the Party and State’s commitment to policies of gratitude and support for war invalids, martyrs, and contributors to the revolution. He said national development is the most practical and meaningful way to honor their sacrifices.

He called on ministries, sectors, and localities nationwide to consolidate preferential policies for those who rendered service to the nation and to promptly address the needs and legitimate rights of veterans and families of fallen soldiers. He also urged stronger efforts to search for and repatriate the remains of martyrs and to expand international cooperation in exchanging and providing information related to martyrs and their graves.