Cuba remembers Camilo Cienfuegos with flowers, dignity and a victory at the UN

The people of Havana, led by the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, returned as they do every year to the Malecón to pay tribute to Commander Camilo Cienfuegos. It was a day that also celebrated the support of Cuba by 130 nations at the UN in the face of the U.S. blockade.

Images via Estudios Revolución

By Claudia Díaz Pérez, translated from the Spanish

October 28 is not just any day in the Cuban calendar. In the coastal towns it is a day marked by waves and flowers. The turbulent sea is adorned with nature's most vibrant offerings, with faces being sprayed with salt water in the effort to present a tribute that is either swept away or embellished by the foam. This unique tradition commemorates a hero who passed away at 27, whose legend stands alone.

Camilo Cienfuegos, the hero not only of Yaguajay but of every town along his victorious march to liberate the West, is remembered and honored each October 28. He is an example of a brave and avant-garde young man, with a passion for blending in with the people – lively and cheerful – yet serious and steadfast when it comes to defending the homeland from betrayal and takeover.

This year, the people of Havana returned to the Malecón, led by the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, carrying flowers and united in the belief that, sixty-seven years after the young Comandante’s passing, countless Camilos have been born among the people.

Beyond his name steeped in legend and poetry, he carries the spirit of anti-imperialism and the belief that if the flag were to fall, even the dead would rise to defend it. His approach to confronting and judging traitors, his loyalty to Fidel, his camaraderie and solidarity, and his courage in tackling difficult tasks have left a profound impact.

It’s that lifeblood, that spiritual backbone, that wealth of heroes from which this nation has drawn strength; and that’s why, in the diplomatic sphere, it’s unacceptable to speak against the Homeland or disrespect its brave people who stand firm against the United States blockade.

That was yet another reason to head back to the Malecón, as happens every year: first and foremost, Camilo, and also Cuba’s triumph at the United Nations General Assembly, where 130 countries chose to stand by the small island, challenged by its giant neighbor, despite pressure and blackmail.

Joining the people of Havana and the Head of State, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz attended alongside Roberto Morales Ojeda, Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee; Army Corps General Lázaro Alberto Álvarez, Minister of the Interior; Major General José Amado Ricardo Guerra, Secretary of the Council of Ministers; Army Corps General Roberto Legrá Sotolongo, First Deputy Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the FAR; and Teresa Amarelle Boue, Secretary General of the FMC, all members of the Political Bureau.

Leaders from the Party, State, and Government were joined by representatives of the Union of Young Communists, various mass organizations, and the Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution. The president was notably accompanied by Commander of the Rebel Army, José Ramón Machado Ventura.

THE VOICE OF THE YOUTH

Lismary Couto Toca, an eleventh-grade student at the Camilo Cienfuegos Military School in Capdevila, recalled the hero: "Sixty-seven years ago, Revolutionary Cuba faced one of its saddest moments: the disappearance of Commander Camilo Cienfuegos. A symbol of the Cuban people and their purest ideals was lost forever."

In her speech, the young woman remarked that for the camilitos and young Cubans, the Lord of the Vanguard is an invaluable influence in acquiring fundamental values for shaping an upright and dedicated individual. She remembered Army General Raúl Castro Ruz’s words: “Camilo Cienfuegos wasn’t just the hero of Yaguajay; he was the hero of every place he went. We declare him the boldest and bravest commander in the Rebel Army.”

CAMILO LIVES IN HIS VILLAGE

Meyvis Estévez Echevarría, first secretary of the National Committee of the Union of Young Communists (UJC), delivered the main speech, expressing that it was touching to see so many Cubans come together to remember Camilo, who, as Fidel described, was a man of the people, born from the people.

"The Commander, with his broad smile and Cubanness soaring like palm trees, has always stood by us through every struggle and victory. Now, amid countless challenges and in the thick of our fight for life, dignity, and homeland, Camilo feels more present and urgent than ever." she said.

Estévez Echevarría emphasized that "our identity was born from his loyalty. From his bravery, we draw the strength of this generation. From his love for Cuba, we learned to live without losing our worth and to always remember his significance."

The youth leader denounced the consequences of the blockade: "The real impact goes beyond statistics in a report, showing in the tears of families who lose newborns when infant mortality doubles; in the anxious faces of hundreds of thousands of patients awaiting delayed surgeries due to shortages caused by the energy blockade, and in Cuban mothers burdened by the lack of medicine, scarce water, and insufficient electricity."

She also rejected “the fraudulent accusation and arrest warrant against Army General Raúl Castro Ruz,” and stated that “Cuba has been free and independent since January 1, 1959, and its people are committed to defending their sovereignty at any cost.”

ART AND COMMITMENT

The troubadour Silvio Alejandro Rodríguez performed “A los que luchan toda la vida,” by the beloved singer-songwriter Vicente Feliú, while the repentistas showcased their tenth commitment, making it clear through their verses that "as long as there is a Cuban willing to defend the Homeland, Camilo's smile will continue to illuminate the path of the Revolution".

At the end of their verses, the repentistas called for a pilgrimage. Led by a music band, and followed by a giant flag and flower cushions carried by young people from various sectors, they made their way to the sea to lay a flower as a gesture of respect and tribute to the Lord of the Vanguard.

This work was translated and shared via a License CC-BY-NC