(Photo: VNA)

The Fund of Messaging to Pay Gratitude to Martyrs was established in 2012 to support the DNA analysis of martyrs' remains and the verification of the identity of martyrs, give savings books, build houses of gratitude and give gifts to policy beneficiaries in difficult circumstances.

Each text message “TALS” (short for Gratitude to Martyrs) sent to the number 1405 contributes 20,000 VND (85 cents) to the Fund.

Lieutenant General Hoang Khanh Hung, Chairman of the Association to Support Vietnam Martyrs' Families, said the Fund has raised 420,000 USD over the past 11 years.

"The proceeds have been used to carry out local gratitude activities. So far, nearly 1,000 gratitude houses have been built, more than 800 martyrs remains have been identified, and more than 1,000 martyrs remains have been repatriated. Thanks to the fund, we have distributed 38,000 gifts and 5,000 savings books,' said Hung.

In the past national liberation struggles, 1.2 million martyrs laid down their lives, 53,000 of them have never been identified. Over the past several years, the search for the remains of martyrs and identification of the remains has been carried out nationwide. The Fund of Messaging to Pay Gratitude to Martyrs is part of activities to engage the public in gratitude activities and ease the pain and loss of the war.

Do Thi Hoa, who is in charge of the National Humanitarian Portal 1400, said: "The program of texting to pay gratitude to martyrs educates young people, educating them about the Vietnamese tradition of “when drinking water, remember its source”. In addition to donating money, each message spreads the humanitarian spirit of the Vietnamese people. We’ll continue to implement the program annually to show our gratitude to the predecessors who sacrificed themselves for the homeland. We hope people across the country will respond and support our program."

This year, the program will be implemented from June 26 to August 20.