Requiem for Gac Ma fallen soldiers held in Czech Republic
A requiem in commemoration of 64 soldiers who sacrificed their lives to defend Vietnam’s Gac Ma (Johnson South) Reef 30 years ago took place in the Czech Republic on March 14.
Prague(VNA) – A requiem in commemoration of 64 soldiers who sacrificed their lives todefend Vietnam’s Gac Ma (Johnson South) Reef 30 years ago took place in the CzechRepublic on March 14.
Speaking at theevent, head of the organising board Nguyen Dinh Hoi, who is a war veteran,emotionally recalled history of the Gac Ma battle. He spoke highly of thesoldiers’ fighting spirit and sacrifice to safeguard Vietnam’s sovereignty overseas and islands.
The requiemshowed the Vietnamese community’s deep gratitude to the fallen combatants, Hoinoted.
Buddhistfollowers in the Czech Republic carried out the requiem with prayer and candlelighting rituals in tribute to the soldiers.
On the sidelinesof the event, a music show was organised along with a fund-raising programme tocollect money for the construction of houses for the soldiers’ families.
Participantsalso took part in a film screening and map exhibition on Vietnam’s sovereigntyover its seas and islands. They signed their names on a letter of petition sentto the European Parliament and a letter of protest to the Chinese Embassy in theCzech Republic, requesting China to end activities that escalate tension in theEast Sea, to abide by international law, and to settle disputes in the East Seathrough peaceful measures.-VNA
The battle to defend Vietnam’s Gac Ma (Johnson South) Reef on March 14, 1988 will be officially included in the high school curriculum, an act to pay tribute to the 64 Vietnamese martyrs and help infuse their unyielding spirit into future generations.
The authorities of the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa and local armed forces gathered on March 14 to pay tribute to 64 naval officers and soldiers who lost their lives in a battle to protect Gac Ma (Johnson South) Reef in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago three decades ago.
The Vietnamese Buddhist Association in Poland held a requiem in Warsaw on March 13 to pray for 64 soldiers who sacrificed their lives to defend Vietnam’s Gac Ma (Johnson South) Reef 30 years ago.
Nearly 200 war veterans who once stationed on Gac Ma (Johnson South) Reef in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago attended a ceremony held in central Da Nang city on March 14 to commemorate 64 soldiers who laid down their lives while defending the island on March 14, 1988.
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At the requiem (Photo: VNA) 
