Letter from the Party Committee Secretary to the Veterans Association of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities

Dear comrades, wounded and sick soldiers,

Dear relatives of fallen soldiers,

Dear fellow veterans of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities,

On the occasion of the 74th anniversary of the Day of War Invalids and Martyrs (July 27, 1947 - July 27, 2021), an event of profound political and humanitarian significance, on behalf of the Party Committee of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH), I would like to express my gratitude, best wishes, and warmest regards to all comrades. I wish you all good health, joy, success, and the strength to uphold the qualities of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" in peacetime, maintaining the spirit of a soldier and continuing to make contributions to our University's Party Committee.

The "Unforgettable Song" program - Commemorating the 73rd anniversary of the Day of War Invalids and Martyrs at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (July 27, 1947 – July 27, 2020)

Melody Beattie once shared: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.” For a long time, along with the rest of the country, we have solemnly celebrated July 27th to honor the heroic martyrs and those who contributed to the revolution. It is also an opportunity to educate today's young generation, to educate students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities about the patriotic tradition, the indomitable heroism of our ancestors, and the noble principle of gratitude. It is also the most fitting path for us to become fulfilled, to “unlock the fullness” of the present and future in which we and succeeding generations will live.

The University of Social Sciences and Humanities, one of the member units of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi (formerly Hanoi University), has the largest number of veteran teachers and students. Among them, many teachers and students sacrificed their lives on the battlefields, and many returned to their hometowns with unhealed or permanently wounded injuries. During the war, answering the sacred call of the Fatherland, these teachers "put aside their pens and books," dedicating a part of their youth to the country. After the war, they brought the military discipline and spirit of the Vietnam People's Army to the lecture halls and made significant contributions to the overall development of the University's Party Committee. Many veteran teachers have retired, while many others continue to work diligently in teaching and administrative positions.

Poet Lê Anh Xuân, real name Ca Lê Hiến (1940-1968), was a student and later a lecturer at the History Department of Hanoi University.

Jean Baptiste Massieu wrote: "Gratitude is the memory of the heart." In our "memory of the heart," generations of Hanoi University students have left their classrooms to defend the Fatherland. The path they have taken – from the lecture hall to the battlefield, and from the battlefield back to the lecture hall – is marked by the heroic examples of martyrs who sacrificed themselves for the Fatherland. These examples will forever remain indelible, becoming even more profound with time. The heroic deeds and noble contributions of the martyrs, wounded soldiers, and veterans have become great lessons and a source of spiritual motivation, urging the faculty and students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities to strive, to shoulder the work left by those who have passed away, and to continue building the University into an advanced, humane, and modern higher education institution in the social sciences and humanities in Vietnam.

I understand that the memorial to the student martyrs of Hanoi University will be built soon. This project will forever preserve the "memory of the heart" in the minds of current and future generations of faculty and students of the University, so that they may see that truth "is the daughter of time" ("Truth is the daughter of time" - Francis Bacon).

Because, most importantly, through their courageous fighting spirit and self-sacrifice for the ideal, these comrades have contributed to "making history," creating the most complete and enduring Truth and Reality.

Paying tribute to veterans on the occasion of the 72nd anniversary of the War Invalids and Martyrs Day, July 27, 2019.

Over the years, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has provided care for wounded soldiers and families of martyrs in many diverse ways, contributing to alleviating the pain of war and encouraging families of wounded soldiers and martyrs to strive in the new era, in their work and studies – for example: offering incense at martyrs' cemeteries, visiting and giving gifts to families of wounded soldiers and martyrs, waiving tuition fees for children of wounded soldiers and martyrs, victims of Agent Orange... All of these actions are aimed at "repaying the debt of gratitude" to those who sacrificed their lives and blood for the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation, while also caring for those who have completed their combat and labor duties or made significant contributions to the Fatherland, their hometown, and the University... 

Conference summarizing the work of veterans in 2019 and outlining the direction of activities for 2020.

The work of organizations and individuals within the University in caring for wounded soldiers and martyrs over the years has been a tremendous effort, but compared to the contributions of these wounded soldiers and martyrs, it remains truly modest. In the coming time, the University Party Committee pledges to further enhance its responsibility towards the work of caring for wounded soldiers and martyrs; to launch a vibrant and widespread emulation movement that yields practical results, aiming to make the care of wounded soldiers and martyrs truly a conscience, responsibility, and duty of all living people. On this sacred day, I also earnestly call upon all wounded soldiers and their families to further uphold the revolutionary tradition, to be exemplary leaders in all local movements, in all fields of work, teaching, and learning, thereby contributing positively to building our homeland and country, and to building our University of Social Sciences and Humanities into an increasingly strong institution.

Thank you very much and I wish all of you good health!