Uncle Ho's soldier and 19 years of silent green journey

In the heart of the bustling and bustling capital of Hanoi , there is a small street corner in residential group number 7, Phu Dien Ward that is still peaceful and quiet. Here, every morning or evening, the image of an old man with white hair still diligently sweeping fallen leaves on the street near the B3 apartment building has become very familiar to the people.

Người lính cụ Hồ, 19 năm - hành trình xanh lặng lẽ - Ảnh 1. — Mr. An cleans apartment building B3 every day.

He is not an environmental worker, no one pays him, but for the past 19 years, regardless of rain or shine, the old soldier has silently swept the trash to clean the streets and take care of and protect the green trees, beautifying the landscape of the residential area.

He is Hoang Lien An (68 years old), currently residing in room 301, building B3, group 7, Phu Dien ward (Hanoi), a former Ho Chi Minh soldier who fought and died during the fiercest years of the country's war against the US.

Born and raised in a family with a rich tradition of patriotism, in 1971, following the sacred call of the Fatherland, Mr. An volunteered to join the army marching south and directly fought to protect the ancient citadel of Quang Tri . After the country was reunified, he continued to go to Laos and Cambodia to participate in the southwestern border war.

After the war ended, he returned to E559, Hanoi Capital Command, as a squad leader directly training the reserve army consisting of 19-20 year old youths from Dong Da, Hoan Kiem and Ba Dinh districts. In 1994, he decided to enlist under the 176 regime for personal reasons. The most beautiful youth of his life with the ambitions and aspirations of youth, he rushed into the midst of bullets and arrows, contributing a small part to the liberation of the country. Now when talking about the days of holding a gun and fighting, he still cannot help but be moved. The military uniform and the mementos of the wartime are always cherished and preserved by him as the most precious things in his life.

Người lính cụ Hồ, 19 năm - hành trình xanh lặng lẽ - Ảnh 2. — After days of treatment at Hospital 198, Mr. An went back to the streets to make friends with the "sound of bamboo brooms".

Work hard as if it were your own business.

For 19 years, regardless of rain or shine, morning or night, he has diligently and voluntarily cleaned the streets and alleys in the B3 apartment building where he lives.

When asked, he shared: "I feel irritated and uncomfortable when I see fallen leaves or trash thrown on the street. I do it out of my heart, no one tells me to and I don't ask for anything." It is true that it is because of my heart that I have been able to do this for 19 years. Because of my heart, without asking for anything, without needing to be praised, but only wanting to keep the surrounding area clean and beautiful, there are not many people like him.

During the season when the trees change leaves, the road looks like a golden carpet. Many days he has to sweep two or three times to get it clean. Thanks to that, the walkways in the apartment complex are always clean. Time has passed, from middle age when he was still healthy and agile, to now when he is old and weak (he has had stomach cancer for several years), he still happily works hard every day as if it were his own family's work.

Người lính cụ Hồ, 19 năm - hành trình xanh lặng lẽ - Ảnh 3. — The kids in the football team loved and enjoyed being near him and listening to him tell stories about the old battlefield.

In addition to sweeping the streets, Mr. An also personally planted and cared for many shade trees around the apartment complex. The rows of mango, dracontomelon, rosewood, fig, royal poinciana trees... were planted by him since the first days he moved here (since 2006). Thanks to his daily care, watering and protection, the branches and leaves now grow lush and green, providing cool shade, like the "green lungs" of the building.

Many years of strong storms and winds, especially Typhoon Yagi in early September 2024, some trees were uprooted and fell in the middle of the road. Seeing the tree company come and cut each section and put it on a truck to take away. He asked the market management team to let him put the trees up and replant them. And he spent several days alone, struggling to replant the trees... Until now, the trees have turned green again, spreading their branches and shading in time for the harsh summer sun to arrive.

Người lính cụ Hồ, 19 năm - hành trình xanh lặng lẽ - Ảnh 4. — Mr. An in daily life - with his little grandson

In apartment building B3, whenever there is work, Mr. An enthusiastically participates. A few years ago, with the quick and brave reflexes of a special forces soldier trained in the army, when he discovered smoke rising from the third floor of the neighboring house, he promptly broke the lock to save the child who was alone in the house and was playing around, calling on everyone to put out the fire...

At the end of 2023, at the Conference to summarize and reward the examples of "Good people, good deeds" of Bac Tu Liem District, he was honored to receive a certificate of merit. Phu Dien Ward and residential group No. 7 also commended his good deeds to multiply many meaningful beautiful actions for the community.

Người lính cụ Hồ, 19 năm - hành trình xanh lặng lẽ - Ảnh 5. — Mr. An was awarded the title "Good person, good deeds" in 2023 by the People's Committee of Bac Tu Liem district, Hanoi.

Mr. An's work in apartment B3 is always silent like that every day. For 19 years, he has been quietly sweeping the streets, taking care of the trees, protecting the environment so that the building is always green - clean - beautiful. He does it out of his sense of responsibility and his nature without calculating the gains and losses, nor because of the praise or criticism of others.

As a long-time resident here, witnessing his actions every day, I want to spread beautiful images of that old soldier so that from there, we will love, respect, learn and follow the example of a soldier of Uncle Ho who has been through life and death, and still quietly "spreads fragrance" every day with very beautiful actions in everyday life.