On the morning of April 15^th, the Vietnam Military Medical University solemnly held a memorial ceremony, body handover, funeral procession, cremation, and ashes handover for Mr. Nguyen Xuan Truong — who had donated his body to serve teaching and scientific research at the Academy. The ceremony took place at the Department of Anatomy of the Military Medical Academy, Van Dien Cremation Center, and the family cemetery in Dong Trang village, Co Dong commune, Son Tay town, Hanoi.

Attending the ceremony were Major General, Assoc. Prof., Dr. Nguyen Van Nam, Deputy Political Commissar of the Vietnam Military Medical University, along with representatives from affiliated agencies and units, the Department of Anatomy, and Mr. Nguyen Xuan Truong’s family members.

Scene from the memorial ceremony.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Truong (born in 1960) was one of the citizens who voluntarily donated his body to medicine — a noble act that reflects a humanitarian spirit and silent dedication to the training of medical human resources and the advancement of Vietnamese medicine. He registered his body donation on September 30^th, 2017, at the Vietnam Military Medical University. After his passing on October 3^rd, 2017, his body was received according to regulations to serve training at the Department of Anatomy.

Major General, Assoc. Prof., Dr. Nguyen Van Nam offering incense in memory of Mr. Nguyen Xuan Truong.

After seven years of silent contribution to medical science, according to the wishes of his family, the Vietnam Military Medical University coordinated the organization of a solemn, emotional, and meaningful memorial, body handover, cremation, and ashes handover. The ceremony included several activities: incense offering, reading a eulogy of gratitude, signing the handover record at the Memorial Room of the Department of Anatomy; transporting the body and conducting cremation at Van Dien Cremation Center; and handing over the ashes at the cemetery in Co Dong commune, Son Tay town — his final resting place.

Officers and lecturers at the Vietnam Military Medical University offering incense in memory of Mr. Nguyen Xuan Truong.

At the ceremony, attendees solemnly offered incense and expressed profound gratitude for Mr. Nguyen Xuan Truong noble act and the heartfelt consent from his family. His silent dedication is a deeply humanitarian and humanistic act, providing generations of medical students and military doctors with the opportunity to study, research, and practice their skills in real-life contexts, contributing to the improvement of medical human resource quality in both the Military and the national healthcare system.

A moment of silence in memory of Mr. Nguyen Xuan Truong.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Truong’s selfless act also serves as a silent yet powerful reminder of the ideal of living for the community and the spirit that “to give is to live forever.” The ceremony ended in solemnity but opened deep reflections on responsibility, gratitude, appreciation, and the human values being preserved and spread by those quietly dedicating themselves to the cause of education and scientific research.

NEWS, PHOTO: HOANG VIET, TRANSLATOR: TRAN MINH TUAN