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Khanh Hoa authorities commemorate 64 Gac Ma naval martyrs

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.
Khanh Hoa authorities commemorate 64 Gac Ma naval martyrs ảnh 1 Flowers and incense are offered at the monument dedicated to Gac Ma soldiers in Cam Lam district to pay tribute to the national heroes. (Photo: VNA)

Khanh Hoa (VNA) – The authorities of thecentral coastal province of Khanh Hoa and local armed forces gathered on March14 to pay tribute to 64 naval officers and soldiers who lost their lives in abattle to protect Gac Ma (Johnson South) Reef in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly)archipelago three decades ago.

They offered flowers and incense at the monument dedicatedto Gac Ma soldiers built in Cam Lam district to show their gratitude to theheroes who bravely defended Vietnam’s sacred sea and island sovereignty anddied with honour on March 14, 1988.

The monument lies at the centre of the 2.5-hectare memorialcomplex dedicated to 64 naval soldiers inaugurated in 2017. It features thenaval soldiers standing holding hands in an “immortal circle” around thefatherland’s flag to protect it as an action to affirm Vietnam’s sovereigntyover the archipelago.

Khanh Hoa authorities commemorate 64 Gac Ma naval martyrs ảnh 2The monument lies at the centre of the 2.5-hectare memorial complex dedicated to 64 naval soldiers. (Photo: VNA)

The delegation then visited the complex’s wind tombsand underground museum where the soldiers’ artifacts and personal items aredisplayed to tell visitors about their life and unyielding spirit.

Khanh Hoa authorities commemorate 64 Gac Ma naval martyrs ảnh 3Inside the underground museum where the Gac Ma soldiers’ artifacts and personal items are displayed. (Photo: VNA)

At this site, around 200 young people from Cam Lam district, Cam Ranh city, andTruong Sa district listened to Vu Duy Khanh, an officer from Brigade 146- NavalZone 4 recalling the heroic fight on Truong Sa waters as well as the 1988 GacMa battle.  

The province’s leaders have visited and presentedgifts to relatives of local martyrs in commemoration of the historicbattle.-VNA

VNA
#Khanh Hoa #64 naval officers and soldiers #Gac Ma #Johnson South Reef #Truong Sa #Spratly archipelago #tribute #monument #Cam Lam #Vietnam sovereignty #Vietnam #Vietnamplus #Vietnam news #Vietnam news agency #Gac Ma soldiers Khanh Hoa
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