At the event, Nguyen Tien Nang, vice president of the Vietnam Association for Former Young Volunteer Soldiers, highlighted the young volunteer force’s contributions to the nation during the past 59 years. He said that in whatever the circumstances the force performed its vanguard role and demonstrated its firm resolve to fulfil its assigned tasks.

Between 1965-1975, more than 133,000 Youth Union members joined the young volunteer force to march to the southern front. They dug and built more than 2,000km of roads and ensured smooth traffic along the legendary Truong Son trail – the sole road at that time for transport of ammunition and essentials from north to south. Thousands of them laid down their lives during fierce bombardments while working on these roads. More than 1,100 young martyrs of Construction Board 67 – the precursor of the present-day Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation (CIENCO 5)– were buried at Tho Loc and Van Ninh cemeteries in Quang Binh province.

Offering incense to 550 martyrs resting in peace at Tho Loc cemetery, State President Nguyen Minh Triet asked sectors and localities to pay more attention to improving the living conditions of war invalids, relatives of war martyrs and those who rendered great services to the nation. He expressed his hope that more businesses will take part in the ‘Paying debt of gratitude’ movement to support these social policy beneficiaries.

CIENCO 5 businesses pledged to build 180 houses worth VND4 billion for former young volunteer soldiers and presented VND400 million to the Vietnam Association for Former Young Volunteer Soldiers.

Earlier on the evening of July 10, a requiem for these martyrs was held at Tho Loc cemetery in the presence of Minister of Construction Ho Nghia Dung, CIENCO 5 leaders and representatives of 20 provinces and cities. Young volunteers, dressed in their traditional blue shirts, refurbished nearly 1,000 graves of the martyrs at the cemetery.