Vietnam loses one of its most legendary mothers

The mother also had o­ne son-in-law and a niece who lost their life for the country’s independence and freedom.

Mother Nguyen Thi Thu, born in central Quang Nam Province’s Dien Ban District, had 12 children, including 11 boys and o­ne girl.

During the first days of the fight against the French colonialists, three sons of Mother Thu served as soldiers. In 1948, all three of them died. After that, six other sons also joined the army and then sacrificed their lives in the wars against the French and the Americans. Each time she received the bad news, she tried to hold back her tears for the devotion to national independence.

After Mother Thu’s husband, Le Tu Nghi passed away in 1989, she lived with her daughter Le Thi Tri, whose husband and daughter perished in the war during the American war. Mrs. Tri is also recognised as a Heroic Vietnamese Mother.

The news that Mother Thu had passed away touched millions of Vietnamese. She has become a legend of patriotism and sacrifice. Mother Thu was also the inspiration for artistic works.

Painter Du Du said she felt extremely sad to hear about the mother’s decease. The picture that she drew of Mother Thu won the first prize in the picture-drawing contest entitled armed forces in 2004. Every year, she visited Mother Thu.

Notably, a Monument of Heroic Vietnamese Mothers based o­n the prototype of Mother Thu is being built in Tam Ky City, Quang Nam Province. The statue is made of sandstone in a pyramid shape which is 18m high and 101m wide. Its internal space will be a memorial hall to honour 50,000 heroic Vietnamese mothers. The VND81-billion (USD4 million) project is scheduled for completion in the 2nd quarter of 2011.

Quang Nam Province is the home of more than 64,000 martyrs and 7,289 Heroic Vietnamese Mothers.

The burden of bad news, 11 times

Four sons of Mother Nguyen Thi Thu perished in the fight against the French colonialists comprised of Le Tu Xuyen, Le Tu Han (elder brother), Le Tu Han (younger brother) and Le Tu Lem.

Seven others died in the American War, consisting of four sons Le Tu Nu, Le Tu Muoi, Le Tu Trinh, Le Tu Thinh and Le Tu Kiet; son-in-law Ngo Tuong and niece Ngo Thi Cuc.