The national flag is the image that all the delegations from the mainland brought back after their visit to the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago in Khanh Hoa province and Vietnam’s southern continental shelf. Looking from all sides of the sea, Vietnam’s national gold-starred red flag always flutters regardless of the sun and rains as a symbol of national sovereignty over Truong Sa archipelago.

That was stated by lieutenant-colonel Pham Quang Trung who is the political commissar in Truong Sa (Spratley) island. To hold on to national sovereignty, many border-guards wrapped their bodies in the national flag before being gunned down by the enemy. Many others stationed in sentry towers embraced the national flag in their desperate struggle against a hurricane before being drowned. Trung has been in the Truong Sa archipelagoes for many years. The image of the gold-starred red flag fluttering on the sky has always moved him, “Every morning, Truong Sa officers and soldiers stand under the flag and shout a pledge to be ready to fight and sacrifice their lives for the nation’s independence, freedom and sovereignty over the islands and the sea.”

For the border-guards, the flag is the embodiment of the nation. Corporal Pham Van Loc from Sinh Ton island was proud to be stationed here to defend his country. He said, “In the afternoon I often looked at the national flag fluttering at the center of the island. I am honoured to be able to defend the island, the nation and continental shelf.”

The flag is quickly faded by the rain, sun and salty air from the ocean. According to lieutenant-colonel Mai Van Bang, the faded flag is still given an important mission, “After a flag is damaged, we take it down and wash it carefully. We present the old flags to mainland delegations to put in their offices to remind the younger generations of the nation’s traditions.

A delegation from the Vietnam Women’s Union paid a visit to Truong Sa on these historic April days. They were deeply moved to receive an old flag from Truong Sa officers, soldiers and residents.

Member of the Party Central Committee and President of the Vietnam Women’s Union, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa said, “We are honoured to represent women across the country and to receive this sacred flag which symbolises the indomitable will of the Vietnamese nation. The flag will be displayed at the Vietnam Women Museum. This is of great significance. We pledge to successfully fulfill all tasks assigned by the Party and State and will educate women to promote the national patriotism and contribute to national building.”

“Day after day and night after night, we are here to depend our country. This sea is ours, this island is ours, Truong Sa...” The song sung by Truong Sa’s young citizens to guests to their islands in a farewell party moved all of us. The remote islands are never isolated in the immense ocean. Children’s singing and the keepsake flag constitute an immortal pledge in the process of defending Vietnam’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.