Sat, 27th Apr 2024 03:27 (GMT +7)

Service held to commemorate heroes who died to protect sea and island sovereignty

Wednesday, 27/07/2022 | 09:55:36 [GMT +7] A  A

It is a practice for any working delegation to the Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago to stop at the waters of the reefs of Gac Ma, Co Lin and Len Dao and hold a memorial service for those who have fallen to protect the motherland’s sea and island sovereignty.

Below is a series of photos of the service shot by Nhan Dan’s reporter during a working trip in late June and early July.
The service takes place on the deck of a ship carrying the working delegation to Truong Sa.
Many members of the working delegation are monks of the Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha.
Navy Captain Ho Thanh Hoang, as head of the delegation, and other members of the delegation attend the memorial service.
Yellow daisy flowers and paper cranes - symbols of peace - are offered to the spirits of heroes and fallen soldiers.
A wreath of flowers is carried by naval soldiers between the two lines of delegates.
The wreath is carried down to the area for release into the sea.
The stream of delegates during the procession.
The memorial service area as seen from the sea.
Reporters leave the main ship and board a small canoe to capture the memorial service from afar.
Captain Ho Thanh Hoan and Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu release the wreath into the sea.
Buddhist monks release flowers and paper cranes into the sea to commemorate the fallen soldiers.
Buddhist monks chant during the memorial service.
The end of the memorial service coincides with the sun beginning to set over the sea.

Source: Nhan Dan