Photograph courtesy of Carmen Calzada

The fifth Cuban Memorial will be held February 16-18 at Tamiami Park, Miami. 

During three days, this symbolic cemetery will give testament to the world of the thousands of victims of the Castro dictatorship.  Each documented victim will have a cross with his/her name together with date and location of death. Almost 10,000 crosses will be planted together with a larger cross symbolizing the many more victims who remain unaccounted for.

People of all ages and different nationalities -executed, assassinated, disappeared, killed in prison, lost as sea, or who gave their lives fighting for freedom in Cuba- will be honored with this sober memorial.  Victims’  loved ones will, as in prior years, come bearing flowers to place by their cross. For many, this yearly ritual is the only opportunity they have had to honor their dead. Many more visitors from the community come to pay their homage and witness this moving sight.

The field of crosses will be open to the public on Friday, 2/16, from noon to 6PM, Saturday 2/17 from 9AM to 8PM, and Sunday 2/18 from 9AM to 5PM. 

All day on both Saturday 2/17 and Sunday 2/18, the Cuba Archive project (www.CubaArchive.org), which provides its lists of victims for this event, will be collecting testimony from witnesses and survivors to continue its work documenting the cost in lives of the Cuban Revolution.

Tamiami Park is located at 11201 S.W. 24th St. (Coral Way and 107th Ave. / entry through 112^th Ave.).

SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES

Friday, February 16, 2007: Press Conference and Inauguration

Relatives of victims will share brief personal stories at the press conference. Translation to English will be available as needed.  A brief inaugural ceremony will follow.

Saturday, February 17, 2007, 7.00 PM:  Ecumenical Service++

This is the most significant community event of the Memorial. An ecumenical service will precede the blessing of the field of crosses and the area where a permanent monument is to be built. 

Participants will light candles in memory of the victims.

Sunday, February 18, 5.00PM: Closing Ceremony++

++ These ceremonies will be filmed by a professional crew and transmitted live at www.CubanMemorial.org. Any television station interested in obtaining live feed should contact the organizers.

Contact: 

Memorial Cubano: Anolan Ponce, Tel. 305-951-6414, Emilio Solernou, Tel. 786.346.5141,

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it / www.CubanMemorial.org.