The President attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Thanh Hoa's 255 billion VND monument

DNHN - On August 28, in Sam Son city, the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province solemnly held the ground-breaking ceremony for the project of the memorial area for compatriots, officers, soldiers, and students from the South who gathered in the North; announcing the Prime Minister's Decision recognizing Sam Son City to complete the task of building a new countryside (NTM), and received the Third-class Labor Medal.

Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Politburo member and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; Nguyen Hoa Binh, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court; Le Van Thanh, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister; Le Khanh Hai, Member of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the President's Office; and leaders of ministries, departments, and branches of the CPC attended the ceremony.

On October 15, 1954, under the supervision of the Party Central Committee and Uncle Ho, Lach Hoi port, Quang Tien commune (now Quang Tien ward, Sam Son city) was the first site in the North to receive officials, troops, and compatriots from the South. Even though they were still suffering and destitute, the people of Thanh Hoa offered their everything to the people of the South during the time.

From mid-October 1954 to May 1955, the Party Committee, government, and people of Thanh Hoa province welcomed 1,869 wounded and sick soldiers; 47,346 officials; 5,922 pupils, students, and 1,443 families of officials from the South who gathered in the North as if to welcome their relatives, with the affection between South and North.

Southern cadres, soldiers, and students have congregated on that day for the last 68 years, participated, and made significant contributions to the cause of national building and defence. Many people have become Party and State leaders; great generals, scientists, authors, artists, journalists, many skilled businesspeople, heroes of the armed forces, labour heroes... have all contributed to glorifying the nation and the country.

In 2014, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the day that Southern officers, soldiers, compatriots, and students gathered in the North, Thanh Hoa province agreed to assign Sam Son city to arrange land fund to build the project of the memorial area for compatriots, cadres, soldiers, and students from the South to gather in the North, following the wishes of former cadres, soldiers, and students in the South.

The creation of the monuments "The Gathering Ship" and "The Gathering Museum" in the Sam Son tourism region (Thanh Hoa province) is required and is a work of great historical value. The nation's glorious past allows this location to be not only a great place for educating all classes of people about revolutionary traditions but also a location for cultural and sports events, as well as a historical and cultural tourism product of Sam Son city.

Following a period of preparation, the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province approved the memorial area project in Decision No. 3428 dated October 14, 2014; approved the construction investment policy in Decision No. 2207 dated June 17, 2015; and adjusted in Resolution No. 322 dated September 21, 2020, of the People's Council of Sam Son City People's Committee, was assigned as the investor.

The entire investment in the project is 254 billion 925 million dongs (provincial budget support 76 billion 500 million dongs, budget capital of Sam Son city and other mobilized sources are 178 billion 500 million dongs). In which Thanh Hoa province's budget provides site clearing and investment in technical infrastructure works; a portion of the financing for the complete monument was mobilized from socialization sources by the Association of Southern officers, soldiers, and compatriots to the North.

The President praised Thanh Hoa province for designing and establishing a site for the "Gathering Ship" and "Gathering Museum" monuments, while also recognizing the efforts of Southern students and other areas, units, and individuals who are working together to create significant works.

Mr Do Minh Tuan, Chairman of Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, stressed at the ceremony: "This is a significant task in terms of revolutionary traditional education for future generations, a read address for the entire community. The country as a whole, the southern compatriots, cadres, and troops, and the people of Thanh Hoa in particular. Two events today will be significant milestones, generating a driving force for the socioeconomic advancement of Sam Son city in particular and Thanh Hoa province in general, as the Party Central Committee's anticipation and Uncle Ho's request when he first visited Thanh Hoa ".

At the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh also handed over the decision recognizing Sam Son city as the final step in the construction of a new countryside.

State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc bestowed the Third-class Labor Medal on the Party Committee, administration, and people of Sam Son city for excellent accomplishments in the emulation campaign "The whole country joins hands to create a new countryside" from 2016 to 2020.

Earlier that day, comrades: Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Politburo member, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; Nguyen Hoa Binh, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court; Le Van Thanh, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister; Le Khanh Hai, Member of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the President's Office and leaders of ministries, central agencies and branches offered flowers and incense at the Cultural Park commemorating President Ho Chi Minh (Thanh Hoa City); visited policy families on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of the August Revolution and the National Day of September 2.

Quang Thang