GLORY STANDING BESIDE THE PRESIDENT
Noted by NGO VINH BINH
based on the story of Lieutenant General NGUYEN NGOC LAM
Political Commissar of the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum High Command
President Ho Chi Minh embodies the noble spiritual values of the nation and the era. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized President Ho Chi Minh as the national liberation hero of Vietnam and a distinguished cultural figure. UNESCO affirms: ‘President Ho Chi Minh is an outstanding symbol of the unwavering determination of an entire nation that devoted their entire lives to the cause of national liberation in Vietnam, contributing to the collective struggle of nations for peace, national independence, democracy, and social progress.’ Therefore, preserving President Ho Chi Minh’s body is not only safeguarding a precious heritage for the Vietnamese people but also for all of humanity, in line with the sentiments of people worldwide towards him.
Forty years have passed since the day Uncle Ho left us. Many generations of officers, workers, and soldiers of the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum High Command have overcome numerous difficulties and challenges, self-reliantly and resolutely fulfilling the special political mission entrusted by the Party, the State, the Army, and the people. Uncle Ho’s body is preserved in the best condition. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Ba Dinh Square, a place of historical significance, where the 'soul of mountains and rivers' resides - a unique cultural and architectural work, the pride of the entire nation, is meticulously maintained, protected, and has warmly welcomed millions of compatriots and soldiers from all regions of the country, as well as international friends from various continents, expressing profound affection for Uncle Ho.
Amidst the historical days of August, in an atmosphere of comradeship, the entire nation actively participates in the campaign ‘Studying and Following the shining Moral Example of President Ho Chi Minh.’ Towards the commemoration of the 34th anniversary of the Traditional Day of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Protection Unit, Major General Nguyen Ngoc Lam, the Political Commissar of the High Command, a general hailing from Luu Phuong (Kim Son - Ninh Binh) who participated in battles in the Central Highlands, South Laos, Southwest, twice served international missions in Cambodia, and has nearly 30 years of the honorable duty of 'guarding the sleep of Uncle Ho,' had a meeting with some writers, poets from the Editorial Board of the Military Literature Journal, and exemplary military musicians. The Lieutenant General initiated the conversation: 'If today Colonel - poet Pham Ngoc Canh, Colonel - writer Nguyen Tri Huan, Major General - musician An Thuyen were present, then we would have a complete set of artists who have accompanied the Mausoleum Protection Unit for the past 40 years! We rarely meet, but it seems that every day we can watch and listen to your works...' Hearing the Political Commissar speak, young writer Nguyen Dinh Tu whispered to me: 'Musician Thuan Yen is probably the one who has written the best songs about Uncle Ho, right?' I want to illustrate the thoughts of Major General Lam and the writer's question that, in the morning flag-raising ceremony, the Mausoleum Protection Unit starts with 'Marching under the Military Flag' by musician Doan Nho, ending with 'Uncle Ho is Marching with Descendants' by musician Huy Thuc; during the night standing guard under the moonlight, the young soldiers hear the distant melody of 'Ba Dinh Moon' by musician Thuan Yen (inspired by poet Pham Ngoc Canh)..., and to understand the traditions of the Mausoleum Protection Unit, besides the chronicle book by Dr. Vu Tang Bong, one cannot miss reading “For a peaceful sleep of Uncle Ho” by writers Nguyen Bao, Nguyen Tri Huan, and others...!
One time, I asked a question: as the Political Commissar, honored to have the 'glorious duty of standing beside Uncle Ho,' what was your first impression when you were beside him? Major General Nguyen Ngoc Lam confided: 'On July 15, 1981, after 13 years of fighting on various fronts, I received orders to work at the Mausoleum High Command. On the first day of duty, I wore the ceremonial uniform with a serious mission, looked at myself in the mirror and felt truly handsome and mature. I thought it seems that poet Pham Ngoc Canh said for me and all the honored soldiers standing guard beside Uncle in the poem 'Moon Rises': Standing guard by the porch / I become a sailor / Smoothly paddling the oars / In the dreamy universe..., and: I see the limitless horizon / Not as my heart imagined / When I see the fairy / In the most simple thee.' The Political Commissar added that his military life has many memorable days, each seemingly associated with memories of Uncle Ho. Upon receiving the news of Uncle Ho's passing through the Voice of Vietnam, his Engineer Brigade 24, which was stationed on a high point in Gia Lai province, was shocked and moved as if they couldn't believe their ears. The unit held a solemn funeral for Uncle Ho on a rainy day midst the ancient forest of the Central Highland. Tears mixed with raindrops on the young and blackened faces of soldiers after intense days of fierce combat and sleepless nights due to missing Uncle Ho. Turning sorrow into strength, immediately afterward (September 11, 1969), his unit won a decisive victory against the U.S. forces (including tanks, air support) in a fierce battle at Huynh Village, near Gia Nhien stream... And in that battle, he had the honor of being admitted to the Party. At that time, he was just over a year in the military and 19 years old!
Preserving Uncle Ho's body for future generations to venerate is the sacred wish of the entire Party, the entire people, and the entire army. The Party's intent and the people's hearts have met... For nearly 35 years, the Mausoleum, along with Ba Dinh Square, the Ho Chi Minh Museum, and the Ho Chi Minh Presidential Palace area, has truly become a sacred land, a center of cultural and historical significance, a unique architectural complex, and an ecological garden on a national scale, with many precious trees and flowers, where millions of people from all over come to reminisce, admire, and express their eternal love for Uncle Ho, pledging to follow the path he charted; at the same time, it is the uniqueness and pride of Thang Long - Hanoi as it approaches the celebration of its 1,000th anniversary! The Political Commissar mentioned that since its inauguration (August 29, 1975) until now, more than 40 million people have visited the Mausoleum, including nearly 7 million foreign guests from over 160 countries and international organizations. We were shown the golden book containing the impressions of compatriots, comrades, and friends from near and far when visiting Uncle Ho's Mausoleum. It was truly touching but also a source of pride for our Uncle Ho!
I recall meeting a Southern fellow, poet Vien Phuong, the author of the poem 'Visiting Uncle Ho's Mausoleum.' He recounted: In 1976, for the first time, he came to the North, like other fellow countrymen from the South, coming to the North, coming to Hanoi, and visiting Uncle Ho's Mausoleum was a sacred desire. He remembered that morning, it was light rain, Hanoi was in the cold wind, he silently joined the line of people queuing up to enter the Mausoleum. The lush green bamboo rows, the late spring cherry blossoms flaunting their beauty, the sound of birds singing here and there... Everyone wanted to spend a long time with Uncle Ho. Uncle Ho lay there peacefully as if sleeping after a day of worries about the people and the nation!... He couldn't hold back his tears. Leaving the Mausoleum, he suddenly composed a poem: “From the South, I’ve come to see you” and the image of a red sun passing over the Mausoleum lingered in his mind until one day the poem was born with respectful verses: “From the South I’ve come to see you / In the mist, I see the spreading wide the rows of bamboo / Oh! Bamboo! The green icon of Vietnam / They still stand straight through storms and rain / Day by day, the sun passes over the Mausoleum / But I see another Sun inside the Mausoleum which is pure red and the verses full of memories and love: Already known the sky is eternally blue / But why does my heart still hurt a lot / When thinking of returning to the South, my tears are just burst out / Thinking of returning to the South, I will miss you somehow / I want to become a bird singing around here every day / I want to become a flower emitting fragrance if I can stay / And I want to become a tall bamboo and forever this way. The poet conveyed the feelings of millions of distant fellows who returned to the capital, entered the Mausoleum, and expressed their love for Uncle Ho...
The stories about the spirit of "serving the people" by generations of officers and soldiers of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Protection Unit, as narrated by the Political Commissar, are recorded in dozens of impression notebooks and extensively covered in newspapers. These stories are endless, encompassing unique tales that are exclusive to Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Protection Unit. For instance, the stories about the honor guard soldiers who must maintain strict discipline for the entire 60 minutes (later reduced to 30 minutes) under scorching heat (38 - 40°C outdoors) and cold. There are also stories of boot imprints etched meticulously on the path where our soldiers stand guard day after day, like a tribute to the dedication and training achievements of these honorable guard soldiers...
The images of honor guard soldiers at Uncle Ho's Mausoleum, along with the ones performing the daily flag-raising ceremony at Ba Dinh Square, are simultaneously solemn, youthful, healthy, and beautiful. They serve as symbols of the nation's dignity and reflect the absolute trust the Party and the people have in the military, in "Uncle Ho's Army." Political Commissar Nguyen Ngoc Lam adds that every officer and soldier of the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum High Command is well aware of the honor and responsibility entrusted to them. Those selected to join this special unit, carrying out the special tasks of the Vietnam People's Army, take pride in their service. Officers, staff, and soldiers throughout the unit feel a deep connection with the images and symbols of these honor guard soldiers.
Political Commissar Nguyen Ngoc Lam shares a poignant story of a teacher from a mountainous area who dreams of bringing her husband and children to Hanoi to visit Uncle Ho. A friend of mine, the writer Hoang Dinh Quang from Ho Chi Minh City, attending a writers' congress, managed to convince the narrator to visit Ba Dinh Square to witness the changing of the guard and the flag-raising ceremony, even recording a song on his handheld phone to share directly with his wife. Another friend of mine who is living abroad, had a chance to visit Ba Dinh Square when she paid a visit to Vietnam. She was so moved by the sight of the soldiers raising the national flag with utmost dignity that she couldn't hold back her tears, declaring, "This is my Fatherland”.
These images have inspired many poets to write poems (some selected for notable Vietnamese poetry collections) and musicians to compose beautiful songs (which are later considered as timeless songs). During the meeting, musician Huy Thuc performed his latest song titled "The Green Da Chong," while musician Doan Nho presented ideas for continuing a theatrical piece about Uncle Ho called "Three Rivers, One Family." Musician Thuan Yen gifted the honor guard soldiers a collection of 30 songs dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh, and writer Nguyen Bao announced the upcoming reissue of his book "For a Peaceful Sleep of Uncle Ho” on the next Independence Day.
Asked about the most commendable achievements of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Protection Unit over the past 40 years, Major General Nguyen Ngoc Lam unhesitatingly said: For the past forty years, overcoming numerous difficulties and challenges, the President Ho Chi Minh Protection Unit has consistently excelled in its mission to preserve the body of President Ho Chi Minh intact, secure, and enduring. This is the top political task assigned directly by the Party, State, and the people, specifically by the Central Military Party Committee and the Ministry of National Defense. We also express gratitude to the former Soviet Union, and now the Russian Federation, for their assistance in our endeavor to preserve and protect President Ho Chi Minh's body from 1969 to the present. Eighty-two medical experts from their country have joined us in carrying out this special political mission, leaving behind deep sentiments and positive impressions in the hearts of every member of our unit. They work with selflessness, dedication, simplicity, and humility, treating the officers and soldiers of the Mausoleum Protection Unit as their own family.
The responsibilities include managing and operating equipment and machinery at the Mausoleum and related constructions, organizing honor guards at the Mausoleum, ensuring the safety of the Mausoleum area, welcoming domestic and international visitors to pay respects to President Ho Chi Minh, and organizing political-cultural activities at the Mausoleum. Managing and serving activities at the Memorial Monument for heroes and martyrs, organizing daily flag-raising ceremonies in front of President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum are also crucial tasks entrusted to the officers, workers, and soldiers of the Mausoleum Protection Unit.
The pressure of the job is constantly increasing. Comrades in the High Command added that on the National Day of September 02, officers and soldiers had to welcome and serve over 32,000 visitors for five consecutive hours. Just arranging parking spaces for that many people was a considerable challenge. Moreover, there is a diverse range of visitors, including the elderly, young, war veterans, and disabled individuals, both domestic and international, with unpredictable weather conditions. How to provide the best service for everyone in every situation is a constant concern. Hence, the unit has members assigned to tasks such as carrying and pushing wheelchairs to assist war veterans and disabled individuals, as well as providing mobile sunshades and rain covers to ensure the best service for people visiting President Ho Chi Minh.
Comrades in the political organization, the Mausoleum High Command, share stories of comrades who are war veterans, some with both eyes injured, stating that although they cannot see President Ho Chi Minh, they still feel the warmth transmitted by him. There are also comrades and fellow citizens who come to Hanoi with frustration about various issues. After visiting President Ho Chi Minh and watching the film 'The Last Moments of Uncle Ho,' they suddenly feel their hearts calm down. Just like the poet To Huu once wrote: “We became purer when we think about Uncle Ho”.
The Political Commissar said that: Political and cultural activities were organized more than 30 years ago, following the Cultural Propaganda Conference at the Mausoleum by the Mausoleum High Command and the Ministry of Culture in May 1978, various social organizations, mass organizations, factories, schools, hospitals, military units, and police departments joined cultural propaganda activities and political events at the Mausoleum. These activities became a cultural beauty of the people at all levels, particularly in the capital and among the youth across the country. While there were only 10 cultural and political activities organized at the Mausoleum in 1980, the number increased to 239 in 2002 and reached 350 in 2008.
Forty years after Uncle Ho's passing, the journey has been filled with challenges requiring the entire unit to strive to its fullest. The ongoing difficulties include the preservation of Uncle Ho’s body in a vast space with Vietnam's tropical climate, the challenge of maintaining stable environmental conditions and meeting standards due to the large number of visitors, and the relative inexperience in operating the first-of-its-kind equipment in Vietnam. However, as Major General Nguyen Ngoc Lam emphasizes, with the heroic tradition of the unit, the awareness of their honor and responsibility, the officers, staff, and soldiers of the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum High Command will excellently fulfill this special political task. They will build a strong Party organization and unit, promote the political and cultural significance of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Ba Dinh Historical-Cultural Complex, and contribute to the overall success of the "Studying and Following the shinning Moral Example of President Ho Chi Minh" movement - a fitting response to the trust of the Party, the people, and the entire army and a true acknowledgment of the immeasurable love for Uncle Ho!
