The leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, was awarded a commemorative stamp in honor of the 30th anniversary of the Asociación Hermanos Saíz, in a ceremony held on October 17, at Havana's José Martí Memorial.
During the event, presided by Miguel Díaz-Canel, first vive president of Cuba's Councils of State and Ministers, AHS President Rubiel García, stated that the organization had decided to award Fidel the honor "for being our indisputable leader, for remaining on the front line of the battle of ideas and continuing, together with us, in the struggle to create a better world."
The commemorative stamp was also presented to seven figures at the vanguard of Cuban culture, politics and society: Prima ballerina absoluta and director of the National Ballet of Cuba, Alicia Alonso; poet Roberto Fernández Retamar, president of the Casa de las Américas; essayist Graziella Pogolotti, director of the Alejo Carpentier Foundation; Dr. Armando Hart Dávalos, director of the Martí Program Office and president of the José Martí Cultural Society; Eusebio Leal, Havana City Historian; Eduardo Torres Cuevas, historian and director of the José Martí National Library; as well as Roberto Fabelo, one of Cuba's most famous contemporary artists.
The honorees, which previously received the Maestro de Juventudes prize, the highest distinction awarded by the organization, have maintained deep ties with the AHS throughout their fruitful careers.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Torres Cuevas, thanked the organization for the award, noting that Fidel "was a great teacher to all of us… it is not possible to analyze this era without studying his speeches, as every speech is a pedagogical speech, a lesson, a way of communicating and opening paths...
"When we speak of teachers, we all have a great teacher, a teacher who not only taught us what we had to teach and learn, but also routine and daily actions to ensure that this Revolution would materialize, and that the ideas being constantly developed within the Revolution itself would come to fruition. I'm talking about Fidel, the teacher of all teachers," he stated.
Zule Guerra and her group Havana Blues performed at the ceremony, which also saw the participation of Culture Minister Abel Prieto, and Susely Morfa, Young Communist League first secretary.
