Ceremony commemorates Son My massacre

Hundreds of local people and foreigners burned incense at the Son My relic site in Quang Ngai Province to pray for the victims of a bloody massacre conducted by the US army 44 years ago.

Hundreds of local people and foreigners on March 16 burned incense at the Son My relic site in Tu Cung village, Tinh Khe commune, Son Tinh district, in the central province of Quang Ngai , to pray for the victims of a bloody massacre conducted by the US army 44 years ago.

US war veteran Billy Kelly (Source: VNA)

On March 16, 1968, the US troops killed 504 unarmed citizens in Tinh Khe commune, mostly elderly, women and children.

Hundreds of houses, along with thousands of heads of cattle and poultry, and all food were burned and destroyed on the day.

Since then, every March 16 is the day when people in Son My, Vietnam and around the globe recall this heart-breaking history.

Son My people have overcome the utmost pains to stand up and contribute to national protection and construction.

At the ceremony, US war veteran Billy Kelly brought 504 roses to the monument to commemorate the victims.

Mike Boehm from Madison Quakers charitable organisation also played a piece of music named, “The Sound of the Violin in My Lai” that moved the hearts of people at the ceremony.