Exhibition of archival documents and memorabilia of B Cadres 'Youth Left Behind' – Recreating memories of a fiery era
WVR - On the occasion of the 79th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs' Day (27/7/1947 - 27/7/2026), on July 17, the State Records and Archives Department, Ministry of Home Affairs, inaugurated the Exhibition of Archival Documents and Memorabilia of B Cadres "Youth Left Behind".
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| Mr. Dang Thanh Tung, Director of the State Records and Archives Department, delivers the opening speech at the Exhibition. (Photo: Thao Chi) |
In his opening speech, Mr. Dang Thanh Tung, Director of the State Records and Archives Department, emphasized: The exhibition "Youth Left Behind" is organized to pay tribute to the B cadres – those who dedicated their youth, intellect, energy, and even blood for the nation's independence and freedom.
According to the Director of the State Records and Archives Department, today's generation is fortunate to live in peace and has the responsibility to preserve and promote the values built by previous generations. The exhibition "Youth Left Behind" is not just a professional activity but a profound tribute to a generation that sacrificed their youth for the nation, affirming the sacred value of archival documents in preserving national memory and expressing gratitude.
Additionally, through the preservation, exploitation, and display of the files, documents, and memorabilia of the B cadres, the organizers aim to spread the resilient spirit and dedication of previous generations to the younger generation, contributing to fostering patriotism, national pride, and a sense of responsibility in the construction and defense of the nation.
Attending the exhibition, former Politburo member and former Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi expressed his emotion, pride, and gratitude when he could see firsthand the files and memorabilia associated with his youthful days. He shared that he is one of the cadres whose files are preserved among approximately 72,000 files at the National Archives Center III. For him, it is a special happiness that after more than half a century, "the living remain, the artifacts are preserved", and comrades still have the opportunity to reunite.
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| The organizers present valuable documents to the B cadres. (Photo: Thao Chi) |
The exhibition "Youth Left Behind" consists of three parts: Memories of B Cadres, Initial Results of the 500-Day and Night Campaign, and Search for B Cadre Files.
Memories of B Cadres with over 100 valuable original documents, images, and memorabilia, takes the public back to a heroic historical period of the nation through volunteer applications, diaries filled with revolutionary ideals, letters, family photos, and memorabilia that the B cadres carried or left behind before their departure.
Besides the documents preserved at the National Archives Center III and many valuable materials donated by families and individuals, the exhibition also introduces some notable images and documents sourced from the Vietnam Center and Archive, Texas Tech University (USA), enriching the historical picture of the resistance against the United States.
The exhibition introduces files and memorabilia of many prominent figures in the history of Vietnamese culture and arts, such as Nguyen Khoa Diem, Nguyen Quang Sang, Phan Huynh Dieu, Dang Thuy Tram, Ca Le Hien (Le Anh Xuan), Duong Thi Xuan Quy... This contributes to authentically recreating the contributions, sacrifices, and revolutionary ideals of a generation that dedicated their youth to the nation.
The exhibition showcases the Initial Results of the 500-Day and Night Campaign, focusing on searching, gathering, and identifying the remains of martyrs with missing information; it also highlights the contributions of archival documents in verifying information and implementing policies for those who contributed to the revolution.
By diligently extracting and connecting each line of information from old notebooks and yellowed documents, the State Records and Archives Department has coordinated smoothly with relevant agencies to verify martyr information, search for relatives, and return memorabilia. At this point, archival documents are no longer lifeless papers but become a sacred bridge bringing heroes back into the arms of their families.
Furthermore, in the exhibition space, the public can directly search for B cadre files preserved at the National Archives Center III through an electronic search system. Among them, there are over 72,000 files and memorabilia of B cadres from 89 provinces and cities (according to administrative boundaries from 1945-1975). This is one of the national archival document collections of special value, not only serving historical research but also providing invaluable original materials for verifying and resolving policies for those who contributed to the revolution.
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| Memorabilia file of B cadre Phan Huynh Dieu – one of the most prominent composers of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Music in the 20th century. (Source: State Records and Archives Department) |
This activity facilitates relatives of martyrs, those who contributed to the revolution, and researchers in accessing archival documents, serving the resolution of policies, searching for information about relatives, and researching history, while affirming the role of digital transformation in promoting the value of archival documents for society.
"Youth Left Behind" not only recreates a part of the nation's memory but also serves as a tribute to those who dedicated their entire youth to the nation. The documents, files, and memorabilia introduced at the exhibition are authentic historical evidence, contributing to educating the tradition of patriotism, fostering the moral principle of "When drinking water, remember its source", "Gratitude for those who have contributed", and spreading the humanistic values of archival work in today's life.
The exhibition "Youth Left Behind" runs until September 2 at the State Records and Archives Department, 12 Dao Tan, Giang Vo Ward, Hanoi City.
