Delegates cut red ribbon to inaugurate the memorial stele (Photo: congly.vn)

This is an activity within the event to celebrate the 70 years since cadres, soldiers, students and people from the Southern region gathered in the Northern region (1954 - 2024).

Seventy years ago, when the Geneva Agreement was signed, the Vietnamese revolution entered a new phase, including the event of tens of thousands of cadres, soldiers, students and people from the Southern provinces gathering in Ca Mau to go to the Northern region.

On the ship carrying cadres, soldiers and people from the South to the North, Mother Le Thi Sanh (in Ranh Hat, Hamlet 10, Tri Phai commune, Thoi Binh district, Ca Mau province) gave a star apple tree to Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien, Captain of Artillery Company 370, Battalion 307 and asking him to send it to Uncle Ho with a message: "The people would like to present Uncle Ho with a star apple tree as a promise to him: The people of the South, the people of Tri Phai commune, must always remain loyal to the revolutionary cause led by Uncle Ho and vow to overcome all difficulties to protect and build the country."

Uncle Ho was very moved and planted the star apple tree near his workplace and took care of it by himself every day. The star apple tree became a symbol of the Southern heart towards Uncle Ho and showed his affection for the people and soldiers in the Southern region.

To commemorate Uncle Ho's deep affection for the people in the Southern region and the heart of the people in the Southern region towards Uncle Ho, in 2004, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of cadres, soldiers, students and people from the Southern region gathering in the Northern region (1954-2004), the Ca Mau Provincial People's Committee built a memorial stele of Uncle Ho with the star apple tree of southern region in Hamlet 10, Tri Phai commune, Thoi Binh district on the land of mother Le Thi Sanh.

On the 70th anniversary of cadres, soldiers, students and people from the Southern region gathering in the Northern region (1954 - 2024), Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee decided to upgrade the project and rank the memorial stele of Uncle Ho with the star apple tree of the southern region as a provincial historical relic.

Speaking at the recognition ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Minh Luan, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ca Mau province, said that the event of gathering in the North as well as the image of the people in the southern region presenting the star apple tree to Uncle Ho demonstrated the revolutionary belief, trust in the leadership of the Party and Uncle Ho, expressing the ardent patriotism of the people of Ca Mau and the people in the Southern region in the cause of national liberation struggle.

Ca Mau province invested in upgrading the project and decided to recognize the memorial stele of Uncle Ho with the star apple tree of the southern region as a provincial-level historical relic to acknowledge the value and historical significance of the event, he added.

He also requested the local administration, together with departments and organizations, to develop a specific plan to preserve and promote the value of the relic, and invest in developing this place to become a typical cultural work of Thoi Binh district, a red address contributing to teaching history and patriotic traditions for young generations./.

BTA