Memorial site inaugurated to commemorate Gac Ma soldiers
A memorial site dedicated to 64 naval soldiers killed in the battle to defend Gac Ma island in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago was inaugurated at a ceremony in khanh Hoa on July 15.
The monument featuring the naval soldiers holding hands in an “eternal circle” to safeguard the national flag in the memorial site (Photo: VNA)
Khanh Hoa (VNA) – A memorial site dedicated to 64 naval soldiers killed in the battle todefend Gac Ma island in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago wasinaugurated at a ceremony in Cam Hai Dong commune, Cam Lam district of thecentral province of Khanh Hoa on July 15.
Addressing the event,Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) Tran ThanhHai said the Gac Ma memorial site is a symbol of patriotism, the resilientspirit of the army and people of Vietnam as well as the national solidarity insafeguarding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He expressed deepgratitude to Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, war invalids and families of martyrsand revolutionary contributors.
Construction work onthe memorial site started in March 2015. The highlight of the site is amonument featuring the naval soldiers holding hands in an “eternal circle” tosafeguard the national flag symbolising the national sovereignty on Gac Maisland. The battle happened on March 14, 1988.
The work was builtwith money contributed by workers and public servants nationwide through tradeunion organisations under a programme launched by the VGCL.
On the occasion, theVGCL also received 20 billion VND (880,200 USD) from trade unions across thenation for the second phase construction of the area and a memorial site for HoangSa soldiers in Ly Son island of the central province of Quang Ngai.
The VGCL also presentedgifts worth 30 million VND (1,320 USD) to 11 families of fallen soldiers𒉰.-VNA
The first-phase construction of a memorial site dedicated to 64 navy soldiers who died while protecting Gac Ma island in Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago in 1988, is scheduled for completion in March.
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The monument featuring the naval soldiers holding hands in an “eternal circle” to safeguard the national flag in the memorial site (Photo: VNA) 
