Former youth volunteers hailed as source of national pride

President Tô Lâm and members of the Association of Former Vietnamese Youth Volunteers in Hà Nội on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sáng

HÀ NỘI — President Tô Lâm has hailed the Việt Nam Youth Volunteer Force as a shining symbol of revolutionary heroism, embodying the finest qualities of the Vietnamese nation and serving as a perpetual source of pride for Vietnamese youth.

Meeting in Hà Nội on Monday with 150 representatives attending the fifth National Congress of the Association of Former Vietnamese Youth Volunteers, on the occasion of the 74th anniversary of the Traditional Day of the Việt Nam Youth Volunteer Force, President Lâm recalled the glorious achievements and significant contributions of the force during the struggle for national independence and subsequent national construction.

The Party, State, and people will forever remember and be grateful for the immense contributions of the Việt Nam Youth Volunteer Force, he affirmed, expressing his delight at the association's accomplishments in the past term, including the launch of meaningful campaigns aligned with the Party and State's policies and guidelines.

The association was also commended for its close collaboration with departments and agencies to ensure policy benefits for former youth volunteers, assist in the search and repatriation of martyrs’ remains, and promote socio-economic development following COVID-19.

The president called on ministries and agencies, especially the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union, to continue studying and creatively applying Hồ Chí Minh’s ideology regarding the Great School of Youth Volunteers, building a strong contingent of officials and fostering a generation of Vietnamese young people who are patriotic, resilient and proud of the nation.

This generation, he noted, should have political mettle, revolutionary ethics, competence, and courage to engage in global integration, along with great dreams and ambitions.

They were also urged to actively and effectively engage in national renovation, construction and defence while preserving and renovating historical landmarks and sites related to the force.

On the occasion, the leader presented a photo of President Hồ Chí Minh taken with the young volunteers and donated VNĐ200 million (US$8,300) to help the association prepare attire for delegates attending the congress.

President of the association Vũ Trọng Kim noted that there have been over 650,000 former youth volunteers joining the past struggle for national independence and the current national development.

The association has donated 1,107 houses and repaired 509 others, presented gifts and other items like saving books, food, clothing and school supplies worth over VNĐ269 billion ($10.6 million).

Additionally, the members supported each other during the COVID-19 pandemic with more than VNĐ2 billion ($79,000) and various items. — VNS