Keeping the spirit of gratitude alive

On the occasion of the 79th Anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day (July 27), the family of Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy, from Tan Thinh Quarter, Tan Trieu Ward, Dong Nai City, was among 16 martyrs’ families that were deeply moved to receive restored portraits of their loved ones who laid down their lives in the struggle for national liberation and reunification.

Representatives from the City Youth Union and FPT Polytechnic College in Dong Nai present the restored photo of martyr Nguyen Vu Phat in Tan Trieu Ward to his family, who were deeply moved upon receiving it. Photo: Nga Son

The initiative was jointly organized by the Dong Nai City Youth Union and FPT Polytechnic College in Dong Nai to honor fallen heroes, Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, and revolutionary contributors.

A meaningful act of tribute

Thuy said her maternal uncle, martyr Nguyen Vu Phat, joined the resistance war and sacrificed in Quang Binh Province (now part of Quang Tri Province). Years after national reunification, the family finally found his remains and reburied them at a martyrs’ cemetery in their hometown of Ha Nam Province (now Ninh Binh Province).

“My mother wished to continue worshipping her younger brother, so when she moved to Dong Nai to live with her children and grandchildren, she brought along the only photograph of him, taken before he left for military service. It was a black-and-white picture taken from a distance that gradually faded over the years until his face could hardly be recognized. Before this year’s War Invalids and Martyrs Day, my daughter learned about the Youth Union’s portrait restoration program and encouraged the family to submit the old photograph for restoration,” Thuy said.

Receiving the restored portrait, carefully wrapped in the Vietnamese national flag on War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day (July 27), Thuy's family members, especially her mother, could not hold back their emotions. “For years, we could only remember my uncle through a faded photograph. Now we have a much clearer and more beautiful portrait. We are deeply grateful to the Dong Nai City Youth Union and FPT Polytechnic College for helping preserve his memory so future generations of our family can continue to honor him,” Thuy said.

Similarly, Heroic Vietnamese Mother Ho Thi Vang, living in Binh Thanh Quarter, Tan Trieu Ward, was deeply moved as, for the first time in decades, she saw her son’s face clearly and in much greater detail than in the old photograph that had faded over time.

Nguyen Van Cau, son of Heroic Vietnamese Mother Ho Thi Vang, shared: "Our family has two martyrs: my father, martyr Nguyen Van Day, and my older brother, martyr Nguyen Van Day. The black-and-white photo we sent for restoration was of my older brother, taken when he was still a student. Following the restoration, the photo is clear, beautiful, and remarkably faithful to his original likeness. With this restored portrait, my mother can now look at my brother much more easily whenever she misses him."

Treasuring every original detail

The project to restore portraits of fallen heroes, Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, and revolutionary contributors in the city is the first collaboration between the Dong Nai City Youth Union and FPT Polytechnic College in Dong Nai, aiming to express the gratitude of Dong Nai’s young generation toward fallen soldiers, Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, and revolutionary contributors, while providing their families with clearer, restored portraits to preserve for future generations. After promoting the project through the social media platforms of the Youth Union and its affiliated youth organizations, organizers accepted historical photographs from July 15 to 22.

Following the success of the first campaign marking the 79th Anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day, the organizers have launched another round of portrait restoration in celebration of the 81st Anniversary of the August Revolution and Vietnam’s National Day (September 2).

Phan Thi Thien Huong, a Graphic Design lecturer at FPT Polytechnic College in Dong Nai, said the organizing board received 16 photographs during this phase. Most of them were old, blurred and faded over time, with many suffering from scratches, discoloration and yellowing, requiring a meticulous restoration process. Using the submitted photographs as reference, Huong and five Graphic Design students carried out the various stages of the restoration process. The work began with Adobe Photoshop, where images were sharpened, scratches and stains removed, and damaged details repaired. The team then used artificial intelligence (AI) to assist with restoring the portraits, recovering their original colors and enhancing image quality.

However, Huong stressed that AI served only as a supporting tool. “Each portrait still requires extensive manual editing to ensure that the original facial features of the martyrs, Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, and other revolutionary contributors are faithfully preserved,” she said.

Hoang Thanh Binh, a second-year Graphic Design student at FPT Polytechnic College in Dong Nai who participated in the project, said authenticity was always the team's top priority. “One of the key requirements is to preserve the subject’s original facial characteristics. When writing prompts for the AI, I always instruct the system to restore image quality without altering the facial structure—especially the eyes, nose, mouth, and overall expression,” he said.

 “Every restored portrait not only gives families a precious keepsake but also helps carry forward the spirit of gratitude. It reminds younger generations to live responsibly, continue learning, strive for self-improvement, and contribute to building the nation in a way that is worthy of the sacrifices made by those who came before us,” Binh said.

By Nga Son - Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha