Thousands of people throughout Vietnam came to Dien Thang commune, Dien Ban
District, in the central province of Quang Nam this weekend to attend the
funeral of Heroic Mother Nguyen Thi Thu, whose nine sons sacrificed their lives
for their country in the wars of resistance against the French and the US.

Nguyen Thi Thu, regarded as the epitome of Vietnamese war
mothers, died at the age of 106 at her home Quang Nam Province on December 10.

Thu was born in 1904 in Dien Ban District, Quang Nam
province. Her nine sons, one son-in-law and one granddaughter sacrificed their
lifes for their country in the wars of resistance against France and the US.

Mrs. Thu’s house used to be a shelter for liberation
soldiers who fought in the enemy-occupied area. Five underground hide-outs were
dug in her gardens to hide liberation soldiers and dozens of cows were kept to
camouflage them.

Thu and her daughter acted as a liaison for the commune’s
guerrillas, prepared cooking and lit a small kerosene lamp to signal to secret
fighters returning home after every battle.

In 2007, on the 60th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs
Day, a 15.2-meter-high statue to all Vietnamese war mothers was erected in Tam
Ky City, Quang Nam
province. It was modeled on Mrs. Thu, who was considered to represent all war
mothers.

The centenarian’s funeral will be held at the martyrs’
cemetery in Dien Ban District on December 14.

On December 12, Party Chief Nong Duc Manh, President Nguyen
Minh Triet and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung attended the funeral.

“Mother Thu will be an example for Vietnamese people
forever. She will be the Great Vietnamese Mother forever,” said Minister of
Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs at the funeral.

Quang Ngai province’s Vice Chair Nguyen Hoang Son wrote in
the visitors’ book: “Today I burn incense for Mother Thu as a son in her family
who pays my last tribute to an immortal mother in this life. Mothers in the
central region have suffered so much pains and losses. Mother Thu is the most
typical example for great sacrifices for
the desire of independence and happiness for the nation.”

Le Thi Kim Don, Vice Chair of Kon Tum Province, wrote: “Our
country has lost a mother of heroic sons. Dien Ban district has lost a mother
who delivered the sons who made golden pages…”

Since 1995, more than 46,000 mothers whose sons sacrificed
for the country during wars have been granted the title Heroic Mothers,
including 6000 mothers in Quang Nam.

PV