Solemn funeral held for 12 martyrs in military drill incident

*Delegation attending congress of ethnic minorities visits Dau Tieng district’s martyrs' cemetery

A memorial service was held on December 8 for 12 soldiers who lost their lives during a military exercise in the southern province of Dong Nai on December 2. The event, held at the southern National Funeral House in Ho Chi Minh city, was attended by former State Presidents Nguyen Minh Triet and Truong Tan Sang; former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung; former standing member of the PCC Secretariat Le Hong Anh; Secretary of HCM city’s Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen; Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Vo Minh Luong…

The ceremony to receive the spirit of Martyr Truong Van Tien for burial at Dau Tieng district’s Martyrs' Cemetery

Before the memorial service, the organising board posthumously awarded the martyrs with the State President’s third-class National Defence Order, the Prime Minister’s certificate of national merit and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee’s brave youth badge. They were soldiers from Battalion 17, Division 5, the Military Region 7 and sacrificed their lives while carrying out their training mission.

Following the memorial service, they were laid to rest in military cemeteries in Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Binh Thuan provinces as well as other localities.

*On the afternoon of December 8, the Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee and Fatherland Front Committee of Dau Tieng district solemnly organized the burial ceremony for Sergeant, Martyr Truong Van Tien at the Martyrs' Cemetery of the district. The ceremony was attended by Nong Thi Ha, Deputy Minister, Vice Chairwoman of the Ethnic Affairs Committee; Major General Dang Van Lam, Deputy Commander of the Military Region 7; Nguyen Loc Ha, Member of provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of provincial People's Committee; Nguyen Minh Thuy, Member of provincial Party Standing Committee, Head of provincial Party Committee’s Organization Commission along with representatives from provincial departments, sectors, localities and the martyr’s family.

With deep gratitude and immense sorrow, leaders at all levels, along with the martyr's family, solemnly carried out the burial rites, offering incense and flowers to bid last farewells to Sergeant, Martyr Truong Van Tien as he was laid to rest in his final resting place.

*On the morning of the same day, the 4th provincial congress of ethnic minorities officially took place in Dau Tieng district. Before the congress, delegates of the congress visited the Martyrs' Cemetery of Dau Tieng district. In a solemn atmosphere, they observed a minute of silence to honor the fallen heroes, laid wreaths and offered incense to express their deep gratitude to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the national independence and freedom and for the happiness of the people.

Reported by VNA-Hong Thuan-Translated by Kim Tin