Commemorating victims of Son My massacre
An incense offering ceremony was held in the central province of Quang Ngai on March 16 to commemorate victims of the Son My (My Lai) massacre conducted by US troops during the war.
Hundreds of local people and foreign visitors attended the event, which took place at Son My War Remnants Memorial in Tinh Khe commune, Son Tinh district.
Every March 16, Son My people recall their heart-breaking history. On this day in 1968, the US army cruelly killed 504 unarmed Vietnamese citizens in Tinh Khe commune, most of them were women, children and old people. As many as 247 houses were destroyed, thousands of head of cattle and livestock were killed, while crops and gardens were also damaged.
US veteran Billy Kelly laid 504 roses in commemoration of the 504 victims, while Mike Boehm from the Madison Quakers organization played a piece of music “The Sound of the Violin in My Lai.”
International media compared the Son My massacre to horrible events worldwide such as Oradour, Guernica and Hiroshima.