Exactly 74 years ago, at the historic Ba Dinh Square, when Uncle Ho read the Declaration of Independence giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and when the music of the song "Tien quan ca" started, the crimson national flag with the bright yellow star was slowly hoisted by the hands of old Le Thi (born 1926), the daughter of longan land....

Exactly 74 years ago, at the historic Ba Dinh Square, when Uncle Ho read the Declaration of Independence giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and when the music of the song "Tien quan ca" started, the crimson national flag with the bright yellow star was slowly hoisted by the hands of old Le Thi (born 1926), the daughter of longan land....

Mrs. Le Thi - the daughter of the longan land, hoisted the flag on the first Independence Day

One day at the end of August, after the phone call, I was happy to know that Le Thi was still healthy. Recognizing that I came from Hung Yen province and would like to visit her, she immediately agreed.

Nestled on Ngo Quyen Street (Hanoi City), going pass a wooden staircase, on the second floor of the old house, here came the small world of Le Thi. Contrary to the bustle and modernity of the lifestyle outside, the small room has few modern appliances - a wooden table and chair, a wooden bookcase containing books and memorabilia.

First day joining Viet Minh Front

Mrs. Le Thi, whose real name is Duong Thi Thoa, was born in 1926. Her hometown in Me So commune (Van Giang district) but she mainly lived and worked in Hanoi. Specifically, she was the fourth child in the family of 8 siblings and the daughter of Professor and martyr Duong Quang Ham.

In 1944, after completing the diploma of Dong Khanh girls’ school and waiting to attend the pedagogical college, in early 1945, Le Thi joined a secret Viet Minh network with the task of disseminating patriotic journalism.

On August 19, 1945, the people of the capital boiled up their fervor to fight the enemy, and Mrs. Thi and the people flocked to Bao An Binh to call for the enemy to surrender, the whole team chanted: "Support Viet Minh, Long live Viet Minh Front! ".

The sudden moment

September 2, 1945 is a great event of the nation. People flocked to Ba Dinh Square, holding the red flag with yellow stars, shouting the slogan: Long live Viet Minh Front! Support Viet Minh! ... Le Thi led Hoan Kiem women's group. Arriving at Ba Dinh Square, the delegation was ranked first, standing closest to the stage. Waiting anxiously for the opening time of the meeting, a representative of the Organizing Committee came to the delegation to request a person to hoist the flag. Everyone was confused because not yet prepared. Le Thi was later trusted for leading Hoan Kiem women's union and standing in the first row.

Le Thi hesitated because the incident was too sudden. Stepping up near the stage, Le Thi met a Tay ethnic woman who was also assigned to raise the flag. Le Thi immediately exchanged with her: "Because you are short, you would raise the flag, I was taller so I would hoist the flag in accordance with the rhythm of the song" Tien quan ca ". When President Ho Chi Minh and other members of the Provisional Government came to the stage, the majestic Tien quan ca started, all eyes turned to the slowly rising red yellow star flag. The hands of the young girl and the Tay ethnic woman were coordinated, flexible, and rhythmic. The moment of hoisting the historic flag took a few minutes and ended perfectly.

On behalf of the Provisional Government, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence. For the first time Le Thi saw Uncle Ho in a simple outfit, and listened to the voice of the solemn and warm-hearted person echoed on the historic Ba Dinh Square. In the middle of the speech, he suddenly stopped and said, "Can you hear me well?" " Yes…! Yes!”, The whole square shouted like thunder. Many people shouted and cried because Uncle Ho was so simple and so close ...

Loyal to the revolution

After that honor day, Le Thi energetically participated in revolutionary movements, and took charge of  the Chairman of the National Women's Union of Hoan Kiem district, and then the Chairman of the Women's Union of Tuyen Quang province ... Mrs. Le Thi retired in 2000, when she was 74 years old. After retirement, she still spends spare time writing books, newspapers, scientific research, etc., contributing her strength and intelligence to the development of the country.

With great contribution throughout her life to the revolutionary cause and scientific research career, Mrs. Le Thi was honored to receive the First-Class Labor Medal, the Third Independence Medal, the 70-year-old Party badge.

Although living and working in Hanoi, Le Thi always misses Hung Yen hometown. Her age is high but  she still returns to her origin on Tet occasion. Following the Red River dike, in front of her eyes, the scenery of her homeland has changed, the cornfields and the  rice paddies in the past are now flower and ornamental trees that yield high economic value to the people. The poor countryside in the past is now the countryside which is becoming more modern and thriving.
 

Nguồn trích dẫn: baohungyen.vn