From one of the balconies of the majestic building, formerly Sociedad El Progreso, on January 6, 1959, the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro Ruz (1926-2016) spoke to the people of Sancti Spiritus for the first time in the cold early morning of that day.
Lucila Patricia Fábrega, a sixth grade student at the Aracelio Suárez Bernal Elementary School, recalled the passage of the triumphant march from the East to the capital and how the Revolution erased evils such as unemployment, illiteracy and degrading vices.
For his part, Abran Sánchez, member of the Provincial Bureau of the Union of Young Communists (UJC), pointed out the consequences of the unfair economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States government on Cuba for more than 60 years.
Young people, he highlighted, feel the duty and pride of being protagonists of new feats and victories.
On the 64th anniversary of this historic journey, the replica of the machete of Major General Serafín Sánchez Valdivia, hero of the three wars of independence against Spanish colonialism, was awarded to the journalist, historian and photographer, Raúl García.
The also Prensa Latina Correspondent in Sancti Spíritus, received it from Deivy Pérez, member of the PCC Central Committee and first secretary in the territory, and Teresita Romero, Governor of the province.
This is the highest award granted by the Provincial Government of People’s Power in Sancti Spíritus to those outstanding personalities and institutions in the social, political, cultural, sports, educational or other spheres.
In addition, the Forgers of the Future Seal and the membership card of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and the UJC were awarded, as well to the Colmenita Espirituana Dueños de la Felicidad and the Martí Youth Movement in Sancti Spíritus.
Other leaders of the Party and the Government, members of the Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution and mass organizations, together with the people, attended the reissue of the passage of this caravan, which dressed the central Serafín Sánchez Park as a gala.
Among the crowd was recognized Alcibíades Aguilar, one of those caravansmen who accompanied Commander in Chief Fidel when entering the city known as Yayabo, as the river of the same name that runs through it.
The day before, the municipality of Jatibonico in this province reissued this historic event.
The Freedom Caravan was the route followed for more than a thousand kilometers by the Rebel Army, after the revolutionary triumph of January 1, 1959, carried out from the 2nd to the 8th of that same month and year, led by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro.
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