The pride lives on after 68 years of revolution of over 50 thousand people massed a meeting at Phu Cuong Public Hall to take back the authority on August 25, 1945, marking a historical date of eliminating dominance and creating farmer-worker class authority.The time is ripeAs retold by witnesses, by May 1945, Thu Dau Mot Party Committee had demanded its grassroots to prepare for revolution as the time was ripe. Phu Cuong is seen today From then on to August 1945, the public movements had leaped up in Thu Dau Mot with establishment of National Savior, Associations of farmers and workers, and defensive units. The majority mass was of the working class under the guidelines of the communist party and Viet Minh.In Thu Dau Mot, the preparation had be energetic within the then July and August. The defensive unit in Phu Cuong and volunteer youths of Chanh Hiep and Phu Hoa hadd emerged as th the most active units with hundreds armed with weapons taken from Japanese soldiers.In the meantime, military propaganda had been promoted within the line of police officers and republic defensive regiments. Many had promised to support Viet Minh.Intera urban youths had been organized into marches, meetings, martial arts shows, etc. to encourage patriotism. Defensive units of volunteer youths were the main forces of the enmass to take the authority back to the people.“The time is ripe to determine the people’s destiny. All of us should rise to liberate ourselves,” said President Ho Chi Minh.On August 17 and 18 of 1945, Southern Region Commanding Base decided to start revolution. In the night of August 23, Thu Dau Mot Party Committee met in an extended secret meeting at Bung Cau Market to review the forces and allocation of Revolutin Committee led by Mr. Van Cong Khai who, then, decided to move the commanding base to Phu Cuong.In two days of August 23 and 24, the revolutionary forces controlled the situation in the rising spirit of the people.In the afternoon of August 24, a defensive unit succeeded in anchor a flag on the top of the main hall and Mr. Van Cong Khai appeared at Phu Cuong Hall to command uprising.Mid night of August 24 and early moring of August 25, the defensive forces had been stationed in places to support the uprising while back-up teams have been established to protect the authority once retrieved. They were all out ready for actions the next day.Life-changing dayThe August 25, 1945 was impressive, as recalled by Mr. Nguyen Hau Tai, a revolutionary veteran, almost 100 years of age and the witness of 50 thousand people arisen in Phu Cuong.“I can remember the day when the mass of over 50 thousand attending a meeting in Phu Cuong Hall to take their authority back. It was a sea of flags and resounding motto chanting: Return authority to Viet Minh, long live a Vietnam of freedom, down with Nguyen Van Sam authority, etc. The 50 thousand crowd and para-military forces generated the general strength of the revolution,” he said.At the meeting, Mr. Van Cong Khai, Secretary of Thu Dau Mot Party Committee and head of the revolutionary board gave a speech stating the meaning of taking the authority back to the people. “From now, we smash up the authority setup by the Japanese farcists and rebuild a new authority for the farmers and workers,” said Van Cong Khai.By 14:00 of the same date, victory was celebrated by people in Saigon and other provinces.Mr. Nguyen Van Huu, a veteran of Thu Dau Mot City in the same mood of pride said: “The bright success was thanks to the Party leaning on the farmers and working classes, taking youths and their patriotism as the core forces.On August 25, 1945, Thu Dau Mot was changed from being dominated to be liberated in one of the most significant historical events of our people and nation.Reported by Thu Thao – Translated by Vi Bao