On the morning of September 2, Mr. Huyen walked into the honorary seat, his gray hair tied in a neat towel, holding a small paper fan in his hand. Next to him, the General Secretary leaned over to ask about his health, family matters, and invited him to drink water. When the fan fell to the floor, he bent down to pick it up.
In a brief story before the ceremony, he told about his two sons who died while doing international duty in Cambodia. "The General Secretary listened attentively to every word," he recalled.
Mrs. Tran Thi Huyen, 86 years old, a heroic Vietnamese mother in Ha Tinh, attended the National Day parade for the first time, sitting next to General Secretary To Lam on the Ba Dinh radio ceremony. VTV live screenshot
When the loudspeaker gives the command, the ceremony officially begins. The national anthem sounded, 21 series of cannons from My Dinh stadium came back, Mr. Huyen and tens of thousands of people in the stands stood solemnly to salute the flag at the same time. Attending a national-scale military parade for the first time, he trembled and held a small flag, his eyes watching each formation march through the stage.
Looking up at the sky, he narrowed his eyes and saw the helicopter squadrons flying in welcome, dragging the Party flag and the Fatherland flag flying in the autumn sun. This was followed by groups of fighter jets dropping heat traps, leaving streaks of light on the blue sky. At the same time, on the big screen, there is a scene of ships and planes from Cam Ranh participating in the parade, which is broadcast live to Hanoi.
"Watching the troops pass by, looking at the planes and submarines, I am extremely moved. My country has changed and become stronger. Unfortunately, my father and two sons no longer have the opportunity to witness this moment," he said.
Mrs. Tran Thi Huyen at her home in Ha Tinh. Photo: Duc Hung
A week ago, when holding the invitation to the ceremony in his hand, Mr. Huyen's eyes were watery. At the age of 86, this is the first time he has received an important national event. He said that it was not only a rare honor, but also a great spiritual reward after a lifetime of many sacrifices and losses.
On September 1, he and his youngest daughter-in-law Nguyen Thi Tham followed the delegation of Ha Tinh province to Hanoi. As soon as the car arrived, it was raining, he smiled and said "still happy, still healthy", because there is only one day left to witness the important event.
At dawn on September 2, he took the initiative to get up early to check in with the delegation to enter the stands. Sitting in the car moving into the center, he saw on the streets, people from many provinces and cities pouring in, carrying red flags, folding chairs, sitting on both sides of the road. Many young people volunteered to distribute water and flags to people. "I have never seen such a crowded scene," he said.
Mrs. Tran Thi Huyen was born in 1939, in Thach Ha commune, now Tran Phu ward, former Ha Tinh city. His childhood was associated with a great loss when he was less than 4 years old, his father, Mr. Tran Hau Truong, a revolutionary cadre, was captured and imprisoned by the enemy and sacrificed.
Later married to Mr. Nguyen Van Minh, he gave birth to eight children. At the end of the 1970s, the first two sons, Nguyen Van Cat and Nguyen Van Duong, volunteered to enlist in the army, participated in fighting to protect the Southwest border, then performed international duty in Cambodia. Both of them died in turn, the older brother in 1977 and the younger brother in 1980. "Once I lost my child, it was difficult, twice I endured it, no words can describe it," he recalled.
The Fatherland Certificate of merit of martyrs Nguyen Van Cat and Nguyen Van Duong. Photo: Duc Hung
A few years later, her husband died at the age of 49 due to tetanus, leaving behind the burden of raising 6 children, including a disabled daughter. Despite the accumulated losses, he still got up, worried, and raised his adult children.
In 2014, she was awarded the title of Heroic Vietnamese Mother. Currently, she lives with her youngest son in Tran Phu ward, receiving allowances and alimony of about 10 million VND per month. In the fourth-grade house, the Fatherland certificate of recognition of the father and his two sons is solemnly hung in the living room. Every day, he lights incense to commemorate, telling his children and grandchildren to love each other, keep the house, and live worthy of the person who has laid down.
Ms. Huyen is one of nearly 5,000 living heroic Vietnamese mothers across the country. All of them are supported by the government and unions and invited to attend important events. At the 80th National Day celebration, hundreds of healthy mothers and many veterans from all over the provinces and cities were arranged to take them to Hanoi, sit on the Ba Dinh stand to watch the parade.
At the end of the ceremony, returning to Ha Tinh, Mr. Huyen was still happy. "Before, no one was as miserable as me, but now no one is as happy as me," he said.
Duc Hung
