SANTA CLARA.— As during those glorious days, when Che first arrived to the city of Santa Clara in December, 1958, this June 14, the people of the province of Villa Clara, representing the entire country, paid heartfelt tribute to the heroic guerilla on the 88th anniversary of his birth.
The main tributes took place in the early hours of the morning at the Ernesto Che Guevara Memorial, led by elementary school students and youth from the province, according to lead specialist of the facility, Ismary Fernández.
Events began at 7:00am at the monument built in memory of the Bronze Titan, Cuban independence fighter, General Antonio Maceo, born June 14, as well, from where the traditional march honoring the two revolutionary leaders set off; ending at Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara square, noted Ismary.
Tributes to Che were led by students from Ernesto Guevara Elementary School at the momentum where his remains lie, with those of this compañeros in Bolivia.
Later 100 outstanding young people from the province were presented with their official Young Communist League I.D. cards, while a ceremony marking fourth grade students’ assumption of greater responsibility as fifth graders – an event involving parents and families – was also held, stated Joel Padrón, head of the UJC Provincial Committee Ideological Department.
According to the representative, the exposition Che entre nosotros, ecos y huellas, in honor of the 55th anniversary of Comandante Guevara’s appearance before the Organization of American States in Punta Del Este, Uruguay, in 1961, and featuring photographs, images and documents of his stay in the city, was also inaugurated at the monument.
Activities ended with the award ceremony for the Che por siempre children’s painting and writing competition, which saw the participation of numerous schools from the province, while actions to celebrate the birthdays of children born June 14, and named Ernesto - an over 20 year-old tradition - were held at the Felix Varela Pedagogical Institute of Higher Education of the Marta Abreu de Las Villas Central University.
