On an early morning in mid-May, Nguyễn Thị Tẹo from Thanh Hưng commune (Điện Biên district) nervously entered the Trúc An Guesthouse under the provincial Police Department to provide a DNA sample for gene testing to find information about her brother, who had been a martyr but whose identity was still unknown. Without bringing any photos or memorabilia, Tẹo’s only belongings were the memories of her brother - martyr Nguyễn Văn Quý, who sacrificed his life in Laos during the years of fulfilling international duties.

Her brother passed away at a very young age. For the past thirty years, Tẹo has carried with her the promise to bring her brother home. Following the few faded letters and sparse stories from his comrades, she and her family have visited many cemeteries, from Điện Biên to far-off Laos, but all efforts have been in vain.

“I don’t know how long I will live, but as long as I find my brother and can tell him ‘Brother, the family is here,’ I will be at peace,” she said, choking on her words.

On that same day, Lò Văn Tỉnh from Hua Ná village, Mường Lạn commune (Mường Ảng district), also came to provide a DNA sample to search for his father. He sat quietly at the back of the room. His father, martyr Lò Văn Tản, died on the western front in 1967. Tỉnh doesn’t remember his father’s face; all his memories of him were passed down through his mother and the elderly in the village. For years, Tỉnh grew up with the desire to know, at least, where his father’s remains might be among the countless unmarked graves. His longing, which he thought would fade over time, only grows stronger every time there are reports of efforts to recover remains. These reports remind him that his journey to find his father is still incomplete.

“When I heard about the DNA collection and gene testing, I immediately set off because I knew this was a hope, an opportunity to shorten the journey to find my father,” he shared.

In addition to Tỉnh and Tẹo, over 90 other relatives of martyrs also participated in the DNA collection on May 7, organized by the provincial Police Department, hoping to restore the identities of their fallen loved ones who have yet to return to their families with full names.

Colonel Đinh Thanh Sơn, Head of the Administrative Police Department under the provincial Police Department, said: “The collection of DNA samples for verifying the identities of martyrs is one of the key activities in the development of the national population database and the national digital transformation project for the 2022-2025 period, with a vision to 2030. This activity has great significance, and we have proactively coordinated with other departments, agencies, and localities to carry out the process systematically and in accordance with the procedure.”

To ensure the DNA sample collection is accurate and effective, the provincial Police Department organized a large-scale training session in September 2024, attended by nearly 300 police officers and local government officials. The training provided the participants with comprehensive knowledge about the DNA collection process, survey forms, and data entry into the national population database.

“We are fully aware that this is not just a technical task but also a sacred responsibility, a moral duty of today’s generation towards those who fell for the nation. Every step, every form, every procedure is prepared carefully and meticulously. Each DNA sample collected brings us closer to restoring the names of these fallen heroes. The samples collected will be stored in the national gene bank and analyzed to compare with unidentified remains, gradually completing the identity records of the martyrs,” he added.

Currently, the province manages 10 martyr cemeteries, with 7,390 graves. Of these, only 865 graves have full information, 648 graves have partial information, and more than 5,300 graves still lack identification. The samples collected from the relatives of the martyrs are crucial for connecting with these fallen heroes and restoring their identities.

According to Colonel Sơn, to ensure the efficiency of the DNA collection process, priority is given to families of martyrs, poor households, and the elderly with poor health. The collection and storage are carried out flexibly according to the local conditions, while always ensuring accuracy and the highest level of respect and humanity.

Restoring the correct identities of these fallen heroes is a crucial and meaningful task. As Colonel Sơn said: “We are not just carrying out a task. We are reconnecting the threads of memory so that no martyr is forgotten, and every mother, father, and sibling can find peace knowing their loved ones have finally returned home.”