These days, at martyr cemeteries throughout the province, groups of people quietly offer incense in remembrance. Fresh flowers and incense sticks seem to breathe life into the memory of soldiers who now rest in the embrace of the Motherland.

At the Tông Khao Martyrs’ Cemetery, Mrs. Lường Thị Thoan stood silently before the grave of an unidentified martyr who died in the battlefields of Laos. For years, she has come here around July 27, as a way to remind herself of the deep gratitude and pride for the great sacrifices of those who came before. “I don’t know their names, I don’t know where they’re from,” she said with emotion, “but I still consider these martyrs as my own family.”

Also at the cemetery, a group of 9th-grade students from Thanh Luông Secondary School, under the guidance of their teacher, bowed in reverence before each row of headstones. They were taught that each grave holds a life, a dream of peace. These heartfelt “history lessons” help instill patriotism in the younger generation through sincere and vivid experience. Gratitude is planted in such quiet, reflective moments.

Currently, Điện Biên manages eight martyr cemeteries, four of which are designated national-level cemeteries, with a total of 7,223 graves. The province also manages more than 16,000 profiles of people with meritorious service to the revolution, including approximately 1,000 individuals receiving monthly benefits. In commemoration of the 78th War Invalids and Martyrs Day, the province launched a housing support program for people with meritorious service and martyrs’ families in 2025. So far, 157 houses have been completed, with six more under construction.

The family of veteran Nguyễn Tiến Sỹ in Thanh An commune received VND 30 million to repair their long-degraded home. Mr. Sỹ shared: “Every form of support, no matter how small, is a great source of encouragement, giving us strength to live the rest of our lives with pride and deep bonds of camaraderie.”

In Thanh Yên commune, Mrs. Nguyễn Thị Lựu, wife of a martyr, was given VND 60 million to build a new home after years of living in difficult conditions. She emotionally expressed: “The care from the Party and local authorities has given me not only a better place to live but also a valuable source of spiritual support.”

Recently, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Điện Biên, in coordination with a Buddhist delegation from Hanoi and the provincial Veterans Association, held a requiem and memorial ceremony to honor martyrs at the Tông Khao Martyrs’ Cemetery. Youth organizations from the Northwestern Mobile Police Regiment, Regiment 82 (Division 355, Military Region 2), and the provincial Youth Union, with more than 400 youth members, officials, and soldiers, offered incense, replaced flowers, and renewed over 200 vases at martyrs’ graves in cemeteries including A1, Tông Khao, Độc Lập, and Him Lam.

Mr. Đỗ Văn Thoan, a victim of Agent Orange (52% disability) from Thanh Hà village, Thanh Yên commune, is one of hundreds who received regular medical check-ups and were provided with medical supplies and medication. He shared that the close attention and care from local authorities and departments has made him and his fellow veterans feel recognized, respected, and never forgotten.

In remote and disadvantaged villages, acts of remembrance carry even more significance. In places where resources are scarce, even small gestures bring profound emotional value, scholarships for martyrs’ children, volunteer teams repairing homes for elderly war invalids, and community-built monuments all embody the Vietnamese tradition of “remembering the source of the water we drink.” Party committees, authorities, and the younger generation today continue this tradition through concrete action and responsibility: enlisting in the military, volunteering for community service, protecting national borders, fostering innovation in education and labor, and promoting social welfare. Today’s youths live with ideals, awareness of history, and a drive to improve themselves to honor those who came before.

“Complete gratitude” is not a phrase reserved only for July, it is a constant stream running quietly through every facet of modern life. When gratitude is not just a ritual but is expressed in policies, actions, and everyday gestures, it becomes the truest and most enduring form of remembrance. With the responsible continuation by today’s generation, history will not fade into the past, and those who fell for peace and independence can rest eternally in peace.