Incense offering to fallen soldiers at the stele(Photo: bienphong.com.vn)
Gia Lai (VNA) – A stele commemorating Vietnamese soldiers who laid down their lives during the southwest border defence war (1977-1979) was inaugurated in Ia Dom commune, of Duc Co district in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, on February 20.
The memorial stele was upgraded from the previous monument at the total cost of more than 1 billion VND (43,000 USD), sourced from the local budget. The provincial Border Guard Command started the renovation in April 2018.
In the defence war to protect the southwest border, local armed forces engaged in 20 battles. The fiercest battle took place at border station No.649, now part of the Le Thanh International Border Gate, in June 1978, leaving many dead and injured.
At the inauguration, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Vo Ngoc Thanh said that the stele holds historical value, raising public’s awareness of protecting the border and building a borderline of peace, friendship, and development.
He asked the provincial border guard force to manage the memorial stele and better implement policies for those who rendered services to the nation and policy beneficiaries.
He also underlined their mission to protect the nation’s territory. –VNA
VNA
