SANTA CLARA.—The Latin American and Caribbean Solidarity with Cuba Brigade paid tribute this Thursday, August 4, to Comandante Ernesto Guevara, laying a floral wreath beneath his statute at the memorial complex bearing his name.
Prior to the visit, the solidarity contingent, made up of 175 brigadistas from 16 nations, including Mexico with 57, Colombia 26, Haiti 22 and representatives from Ecuador, Honduras, El Salvador, Guadeloupe, Martinique and other Caribbean countries, undertook voluntary work in the province of Artemisa.
Following a tour of the memorial site, including the mausoleum containing the remains of Che and his compañeros, and the museum exhibiting a series of photos, documents and belongings, the brigade visited the Tren Blindado (Armored Train) monument, marking one of the most important actions of the Battle of Santa Clara, led by Comandante Guevara in 1958.
María Teresa López, from Mexico, said she was moved on visiting such a historically significant site, and recalled studying the life of Che and the revolutionary process in Cuba, which motivated her to participate in solidarity movements with the island.
She explained that the José Martí Institute was founded in her home city of Guadalajara, providing information on Cuba and serving as a school for Latin American revolutionaries, which among other activities organizes solidarity brigades, such as this which annually visits the island.
Meanwhile, Dubán Vélez, from Medellin, Colombia, noted that Che is a reference for all members of the 23rd contingent of the Latin American and Caribbean Solidarity with Cuba Brigade, given his example which raised awareness regarding the peoples of the world fighting for freedom.
