Passing the torch through generations

Born in peace , Lieutenant Nguyen Thi Giang's childhood is still deeply imprinted with her father's stories. Her father, a war invalid returning from the southwestern border battlefield, suffered a 51% disability and many pieces of shrapnel still in his body. The pain tormented him every time the weather changed, but he still tried his best to do many jobs: from carpentry, selling rice to working on construction projects far from home... just to raise 3 children to study. In the small house, Giang's childhood was associated with the image of her father silently fighting against illness and the hard work of her sick mother, along with the support for war invalids to reduce hunger in the family meals, so that she and her sisters could go to school.

People line up to watch the rehearsal of the parade in Hanoi .

It was from the stories her father told her about the battlefield, about her comrades, about the ideals of Uncle Ho's soldiers that Giang's dream of following in her father's footsteps and wearing the green military uniform was kindled. Although she did not go directly to the training ground, she is connecting day and night, contributing significantly to bringing stories about soldiers and heroic songs of the nation back to life on the pages of books. For her, love for the country is not only nurtured during war but also originates from the simplest things. And she also sows that love in her little daughter every day through stories and songs of her homeland. "I hope my child grows up in peace and happiness. Seeing my child happy and healthy every day is the motivation for me to complete my mission, and it is also a way for me to express my love for the Fatherland," Senior Lieutenant Giang emotionally shared.

National Day memories in people's hearts

If in the fathers' generation, patriotism was nurtured through memories of war and difficult days, then in the hearts of the people today, each National Day occasion awakens pride from deep memories. In that stream of memories, Mr. Nguyen Cong Chung, a technology driver in Hanoi, emotionally recounted the time he witnessed the National Day parade on September 2 exactly 40 years ago. Driving passengers on a rainy afternoon, when the melody of "Sing forever the military march" rang out from the roadside loudspeaker, Mr. Chung felt like he was back in his twenties. Those were the years when life was full of deprivation: an old, worn-out shirt with many patches, a meal mixed with cassava and sweet potatoes that was not enough to satisfy hunger, or cycling dozens of kilometers to the neighboring district to sell rice and find more firewood for cooking.

Uncle Chung recalled that, on the eve of National Day that year, he and a friend secretly carried a bag of rice from Hung Ha, Thai Binh (now Hung Yen province) on a dilapidated bicycle heading towards the capital. The long journey made their legs tired, the two told each other that if they saw a bus, they would definitely climb on it. Luckily, along the way, they waved and hitched a ride on a tractor. The bag of rice was tied tightly to the back of the bike, and the two young men continued their journey, then weaved through the streets of Hanoi, finally sleeping under a tree at Hang Dau post so that they could witness the historic moment early the next morning. Traveling was difficult at that time, but many people like him cycled dozens of kilometers just to see the parade. The streets were as crowded as a festival. For the first time, people saw so many weapons and majestic formations. Although it could not be compared to today, the spirit and national pride at that time he would never forget. "Now, although life is still difficult, being able to live in peace and stability is already a blessing," Mr. Chung emphasized.

Youth with aspiration and dedication

If his father's memory is of perseverance in hardship, today's youth breathes new energy into patriotism: the desire to assert oneself, commit, be creative and contribute. One of the typical faces is Senior Lieutenant Bui Tuan Ngoc, a talented young singer.

Born and raised in a family with a military tradition, the times he followed his father to Quang Duc Border Post (Border Guard Command, Quang Ninh Provincial Military Command) to listen to the people singing to celebrate the harvest season instilled in Tuan Ngoc a passion for music from his childhood. Self-taught in the guitar and self-composing, Ngoc had his first songs that resonated from the heart of a young man who loved life and his homeland. From first prize in the school-level music competition, to the attention-grabbing MV "Thu Cho", to becoming the valedictorian of the vocal music department of the Military University of Culture and Arts, Ngoc has affirmed his talent and perseverance as a soldier and artist. More than the achievements or the title "Outstanding Young Face of the Army in 2025", what Ngoc cherishes most is being able to write songs imbued with folk material, simple but passionate about the love for the homeland and the Vietnamese people.

Sharing about his compositions, Senior Lieutenant Bui Tuan Ngoc said: “Each melody to me is not only music but also a tribute to the previous generation and a way to spread love for the country to the young people. Through each word and melody, I want to convey more of the national culture and military culture, contributing to affirming the bond between the military and the people and building defense diplomacy.”

No matter the era, patriotism still exists in the simplest things: in the memories of fathers and brothers, in the lullabies of mothers, in the aspirations of today's youth. That flame will forever be the endless source of the nation.

Article and photos: KIEU OANH - NGOC KHANH

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/chinh-tri/tiep-lua-truyen-thong/ngon-lua-yeu-to-quoc-tu-nhung-cau-chuyen-doi-thuong-843905