Grateful to those who fell, sacrificing for independence, freedom, and peace for the nation, every Vietnamese today cherishes the value of peace. To achieve peace, a unified country, the people of Vietnam endured many hardships and losses through various wars, from the time of Chinese domination to the resistance war against the French and Americans. Having gone through war, each Vietnamese understands the sacrifices and losses, and the value of peace.

Across the land, from the northernmost to the southernmost point of the country, no place is without the sacrifice of soldiers who protected the homeland. Grateful and remembering the heroes and martyrs who fell for the independence and freedom of the country, martyrs’ cemeteries are found everywhere. Protecting the nation’s independence and freedom, more than 1.1 million Vietnamese people sacrificed their lives. Tragically, nearly 200,000 martyrs’ remains have not been found on the battlefields of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia; more than 300,000 martyrs’ remains have not been identified by name, origin, or unit. The country has nearly 800,000 war invalids and those receiving war invalid benefits, and more than 300,000 people involved in the resistance wars who have children suffering from Agent Orange dioxin contamination.

Located in the heart of Điện Biên Phủ city, the A1 National Martyrs’ Cemetery is a sacred historical site, where 644 martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the independence and freedom of the country during the Điện Biên Phủ Campaign in 1954 rest. The cemetery, located just a few hundred meters from A1 Hill, is a cultural and historical monument reflecting the heroic and resilient spirit of the people and soldiers during the resistance war against the French. Currently, Điện Biên province has 8 martyrs’ cemeteries, with over 6,600 martyrs’ graves from various wars, of which nearly 5,300 graves remain unidentified.

Across the country, there are more than 1.1 million martyrs, including 191,605 who sacrificed in the resistance war against the French, 849,018 who laid down their life in the resistance war against the Americans, and 105,627 who fell in other campaigns to protect the country (such as the Southwestern border war, the Northern border war, and the defense of the national sovereignty over sea and islands). At martyrs’ cemeteries, rows of unmarked graves stretch out painfully. The spirits of the martyrs are still among us, hidden somewhere across the country.

There are over 3,200 martyrs’ cemeteries and more than 3,000 monuments dedicated to martyrs across the country. Every province or city has its own martyrs’ cemetery. These cemeteries are places where people, organizations, and unions go to offer incense, flowers, and visit to express gratitude to the heroes who bravely sacrificed their lives.

As we approach the 50th anniversary of the end of the resistance war against the US invaders, the reunification of the country, and the liberation of the South, generations living in peace today are even more grateful for the sacrifices and contributions of the heroes and martyrs. In the resistance war against the US, central Vietnam was the site of many fierce battles, with heavy losses, especially in Quảng Trị province. The most brutal battle was the 81 days and nights of holding the Quảng Trị ancient citadel, where a full platoon sent the night before was reduced to only a few survivors the next day. After the war, Quảng Trị lost over 18,000 martyrs, more than 11,000 war invalids, and tens of thousands of people who contributed to the revolution. The Trường Sơn National Martyrs’ Cemetery, the largest martyrs’ cemetery in the country, located in Gio Linh district, Quảng Trị, is the final resting place of 10,263 soldiers who sacrificed their lives along the Hồ Chí Minh Trail during the resistance war against the US. Quảng Trị also has the Road 9 National Martyrs’ Cemetery and 70 other cemeteries with over 60,000 martyrs’ graves.

Martyrs’ cemeteries are not just the resting places for our heroes, but also symbols of the spirit, willpower, and the desire for independence and peace of our people. With the Vietnamese tradition of “Drinking water, remembering its source,” these cemeteries have become pilgrimage sites where people from all regions of the country come to honor and show deep gratitude to the martyrs. From dawn to dusk, crowds of visitors come to offer incense, visit, and remember the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the independence of the nation.

The rows of white gravestones that remain unidentified, the martyrs’ cemeteries that stretch across the country, the war invalids, and the people who fought for the revolution all stand as a testament to those who rose up in times of bombs and gunfire to protect the homeland, making sacrifices for peace and the unification of the country. Cherishing the value of peace, we must act with concrete, practical steps to awaken the gratitude, pride, and responsibility for the sacrifices of the previous generation to build the country today.