In order to preserve and honour the images of heroic martyrs, the youth in Da Nang have restored portraits of heroic martyrs and presented them to their relatives and families. The move aims to express the gratitude and remembrance of the young generation for those who sacrificed their lives for the cause of protecting the independence and freedom of the country.

The Da Nang youth restored and presented portraits to relatives and families of martyrs. Photo: KHANH NGAN

The restored photos not only recreate the portraits of martyrs but also serve as a bridge between the past and the present, helping today's young generation better understand the sacrifices and hardships of previous generations, and at the same time, educating the young generation on the tradition of patriotism and bravery.

According to representatives of the Youth Union organisation in Hoa Quy Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, many martyrs left their photos for their families, but some only had pencil portraits described by their relatives. Up to now, the commemorative and memorial photos have faded and been damaged, and are no longer clearly visible. Therefore, the ward’s Youth Union organisation surveyed and selected families in need to restore portraits of their children. Up to now, 7 black and white photos, and photos from old ID cards, have been restored into colour ones and presented to 6 families of martyrs in the locality.

Recently, the municipal Youth Union has launched a programme to restore and present martyrs' portraits. Accordingly, it has coordinated with local authorities to collect portraits and guide families to provide original photos or blurred, damaged photos.

Mr. Nguyen Van Sen, younger brother of martyr Nguyen Van Thanh in Son Tra District said "When the Youth Union contacted me to express wish to restore my brother's photo, I could not express all the joy and emotion in my heart. My brother's photo was blurred and smudged, but now it is sketched with full size and color as the original. That image is not only a precious memory but also a testament to the love and sacrifice of my brother who devoted his whole life to the fatherland".

Meanwhile, the older brother of martyr Pham Phu Thanh in Hai Chau District remarked "This is a very meaningful work of the city's youth. Thanks to their support, I can see the image of my younger brother once again".

Mr. Le Xuan Thanh, Secretary of Ngu Hanh Son District Youth Union, said that paying tribute to heroic martyrs is the duty and responsibility of today's generation. Behind the photos is a touching story. Restoring the portraits is the wish of children and grandchildren who want to see their deceased relatives in their faded memories.

Mr. Ngo Tuan Anh, Secretary of the Youth Union organisation of Da Nang University of Architecture which directly restores photos of martyrs, shared that the unit has 10 members involving the restoration of the martyrs' photos. Depending on the quality of photos, some are easy to process, but some are very difficult, such as old, blurry, out of focus photos, or faded paintings. In particular, the group had to restore the portrait based on the description of the relatives. Normally, each photo takes about a day to complete, but some take several days. The group feels very happy because they have contributed to preserving precious memories and honouring the martyrs.

The Da Nang Youth Union and its affiliated units have just presented 10 portraits to relatives of martyrs in the city. According to Deputy Secretary of the municipal Youth Union Nguyen Thi Anh Thao, when the photos were restored and presented to the families, all youth union members were very moved. The steps of restoring martyrs' portraits include collecting information and original images from relatives and other sources; using digital technology to edit and refresh the portraits; printing and framing.

In the coming time, the municipal Youth Union will maintain and develop the programme to restore martyrs' portraits and organise many gratitude and social security activities to pay tribute to heroic martyrs, educate revolutionary traditions, and foster patriotism for the younger generation.

Reporting by KHANH NGAN - Translating by M.DUNG