Dong Thap: Candlelight Tribute at the “Finding Your Name Again” Program

(DTO) On the evening of July 23, at Cao Lanh Martyrs’ Cemetery in My Tho Commune, the talk show and live television program “Finding Your Name Again” was broadcast live on HTV9. Dong Thap was one of four live broadcast locations jointly organized by Ho Chi Minh City Radio and Television Station (HTV) and local authorities. 
 

Attending were Phan Van Thang, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Dong Thap Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Dong Thap Province; Huynh Minh Tuan, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee; Pham Thi Ngoc Dao, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Department of Home Affairs; Colonel Vo Thi Hoai Ngoc, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Deputy Director of the Provincial Police Department; Pham The Vinh, Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee’s Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilization; together with representatives of provincial agencies, armed forces, and local residents. 

In the solemn atmosphere of Cao Lanh Martyrs’ Cemetery, candles were lit at every grave, forming a stream of light across the July night. Each candle and stick of incense symbolized profound gratitude to the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the nation’s independence, freedom, and the peaceful lives of its people. 

The program was held to commemorate the 79th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27, 1947 - July 27, 2026) and in support of the “500-Day Campaign to Accelerate the Search, Recovery, and Identification of Martyrs’ Remains.” 

By connecting live broadcast sites at historic landmarks, martyrs’ cemeteries, and areas associated with the search and recovery mission, the program retraced the long, demanding, yet deeply meaningful journey of those carrying out this sacred task. It also conveyed the shared aspiration of restoring the names, hometowns, and family connections of fallen soldiers. 

At the Dong Thap broadcast site, documentary footage, archival materials, eyewitness accounts, and discussions highlighted the dedication, compassion, and determination of officers and soldiers engaged in searching for, recovering, and identifying martyrs’ remains. Behind every verified record, preserved personal artifact, and recovered set of remains lies efforts of patient research, cross-checking information, and close coordination among military units, local authorities, veterans, and the public. 

Alongside the panel discussion, incense-offering and candle-lighting ceremonies were held with dignity and reverence. Around 100 officers and soldiers, together with 150 delegates representing veterans, Women’s Union members, Youth Union members, and mass organizations, took part in the event. A total of 1,570 candles were lit simultaneously at the cemetery, expressing profound gratitude and the responsibility of today’s generation toward those who gave their lives for the country. 

“Finding Your Name Again” is not only a journey to find a missing name on a gravestone, but also a journey to restore the identity of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, reconnecting their memory with their families and hometowns. From the candlelight at Cao Lanh Martyrs’ Cemetery, the tradition of remembering those who came before continues to be nurtured and spread, reaffirming the responsibility of the Party, the State, the military, and society as a whole toward heroic martyrs and those who rendered distinguished service to the nation. 

By MY LY
Translated by ANH DUC