February 24, 2005
In Memoriam
I don't recall whether it was a Saturday or a Sunday but I recall noticing it had turned out to be a beautiful South Florida day as we made our way through the tunnels and ramps at the Orange Bowl. The clear sky and light breeze went unnoticed by most as the previous few days in Miami had been ill-weathered and marred by pain and anger and protests and tears and more pain.
I was there with my girlfriend at the time, a Colombian girl who despite having lived her whole life in Miami had never really delved into the Cuban psyche of its diaspora. She was there with me for me. She knew what it meant to me. I had to be there. I had to go regardless of the hurt. She'd seen me crying for days. Seen my father depressed and my mother somber. She'd seen the anger build up in me and turn into a rage, then, as quickly as it had begun, lulled into a whimpering sob.
There were thousands of people there. I remember I had to fight back tears the moment we made it through the ramp and up into the stands. So many people, I thought. So many flags.
There were hundreds and hundreds of Old Glory's waving alongside the red, white and blue of the Cuban flag. The colors of Venezuela waved there, and Colombia. Argentina and Brazil chimed in with the light breeze. Puerto Rico and Nicaragua represented. Dominican flags waved alongside flags from Jamaica and Mexico. It was a sea of solidarity. Symbols of our neighbors offering condolences and support.
On the stage below were red, white and blue wreaths and large photographs. Pictures of four men who had just been murdered. Men whose only crime was wanting freedom for the people of Cuba and who spent their days flying over the Straights of Florida seeking those seeking liberty. Men who saved countless lives. Who spent hours upon hours searching the ocean for the speck of a human trying to survive it.
An old couple came and sat next to us. Someone's grandparents who had braved the parking and the crowd and the stairs and the ramps because they knew they had to be there. This was their fight. Their battleground and they came to make a stand. To be heard. I remember I helped the old woman sit. She held my arm as her years made her legs tremble when she bent to sit.
I dont think I will ever see or remember a more heartfelt "Gracias" as the one she gave me at that moment. She was sad and glad and proud all at the same time. There were alot of years in her eyes. Both her and her husband dressed to the nines, old school, just like my grandparents had always been.
Speeches were made. Roars of "Libertad! Libertad!" resounded through the stadium over and over again. Madeline Albright came up and assured us something would be done. The pressure would be put on the murderer. The world was with us, she said. They didnt seem like empty promises then.
The old folks next to us, their white hair gently dancing to the breeze never wept. They consoled my tears instead. The woman held my hand, softly ran her thumb across its back. No llores, mijo, she said. Dont cry. As if to say they had already run out of tears. Understood already what was incomprehensible to me.
We have been here before, the old man told me. We saw Kennedy here. We shed our tears then.
A moment of silence was announced, the din of the crowd slowly wanned. I helped the old woman up from her chair. My girlfriend held one hand, the old woman, this new Abuela of mine, held the other. I could hear her whispered prayers amid the sound of flags in the wind.
A faint sound approached from the South. It grew louder and louder. The crowd slowly began looking toward the sky. And then, during this moment of silence, four twin engine Brothers to the Rescue Cessnas appeared. The Missing Man Formation flew directly above us in honor of their fallen brothers.
My new grandmother looked up and squeezed my hand, then began to cry.
Rest in peace, Hermanos.
Posted by Val Prieto at February 24, 2005 09:18 AM
Comments
I knew of these men, and their story. This is the first time I've shed tears for them. I wait for the day that the bastard who murdered them gets his. I hope it's soon. Viva Libre Cuba
Posted by: Kathleen at February 24, 2005 10:57 AM
Thank you for honoring their memory in such a beautiful and touching manner.
Posted by: Amanda at February 24, 2005 10:57 AM
Val, this is magnificent. I'm in tears. Thanks so much.
Posted by: red at February 24, 2005 11:16 AM
Val, this is a truly marvellous tribute. Thank you for remembering them. In New York, there is a street named 'Brothers to the Rescue Avenue.' It's in a fitting place - right in front of fidel's mission at the UN around First Avenue.
f u fidel.
Posted by: A.M Mora y Leon at February 24, 2005 11:30 AM
Well done, Val. :: wiping eyes ::
Posted by: Geek Girl Blonde at February 24, 2005 12:42 PM
Val, I felt like I was there for just a second the way you described it. Chills. These four men represent the epitomy of selflessness. They risked their lives, ultimately paying with their lives, to keep folks from drowning at sea. No greater love...
Posted by: j.scott barnard at February 24, 2005 01:04 PM
Val, I too was there for the memorial & will never forget the "union" felt in the stadium. The lives of these heros are appreciated by my family in a special way. Soon after this crime, my Father spoke to us about his being a Bay of Pigs veteran & what it meant to him, for the very first time since the invasion.
Posted by: Nancy at February 24, 2005 01:51 PM
Como en toda guerra, hay victorias y hay derrotas. En el caso de los agentes llamados "hermanos del rescate" la derrota fue contra la mafia de miami.
Y aquellos que dicen que donde estaban los F-16 de eeuu, pues ya llevan 50 anyos esperandolos, ja ja. Parece que en miami nadie sabe volarlos, o es que no tienen co..... Pudranse en el exilo.
Castro es solo una persona, mas sin enbargo todos le temeis.
Posted by: El Barbudo at February 24, 2005 09:27 PM
pudranse enel exilio
Juajuajuajuaua
Aqui en el exilio no falt comida, no falta petroleo, no falta medicina, no falte informacion, no falta agua, no falte electricidad, no falta etica, no falta moral, no falta la erdad, no hay edificios derrumbandose por falta de manteniiento y materiales, etc..
Dime tu, barbudo, quienes son los que se estan pudriendo?
Que sapingo. Deveras que eres unos de los idiotas utiles de fidel. Te deberia dar verguenza.
Veremos que vas a cantar cuando se muera tu papacito fidel.
Posted by: Val Prieto at February 25, 2005 05:53 AM
I hate to sound trivial, but do you notice that young or old, the four pilots are all very handsome? Handsome ... and knightlike in their nobility, rescuing refugees at sea. Two qualities fidel has neither of. Makes me wonder if there really is something to Val's truck size/island theory. castro really is a vile ugly jealous loser, no two ways about it.
Posted by: A.M. Mora y Leon at February 25, 2005 08:52 AM
Como Colombiano El imagen de Che Guevara en Colombia es uno de respecto y admiracion. Los Norte Americanos se meten en asuntos ajenos especialmente en Colombia. Los Gringos deben dejar a nuestras tierras Sud Americanas en paz. El problema con la droga en Colombia es debido por la debilidad de los Gringos. La Guerrilla es debido por la injusticia social creada por los puercos gobiernos de nuestros paises. Los cuales son apoyado por Los Estados Unidos.Che Guevara fue un Gran hombre un Gran ser Humano y mas que todo Un companero del pueblo Latino Americano
Posted by: Colombiano at February 28, 2005 02:30 PM
Colombiano,
Dejate de comer tanta mierda. Los problemas que tiene Colombia son los problemas causados por un pueblo analfabeto y corrupto, No le estes hechando la culpa a nadia, especialmente a los Americanos y sus debilideces. Si no fuera pro las drogas, tu pais no fuera nada. Menos que nada.
Posted by: Val Prieto at February 28, 2005 02:59 PM
Senor Los Americanos no saben nada y repito nada sobre la realidad de America Latina. Hay pocos que saben pero la mayoria no. Los Americanos son spoil y piensan que son mejores que los demas y piensan que nosotros los Sud Americanos somos menos que ellos. Algunos Americanos que me han venido a Colombia fueron muy amables y respectosos sobre nuestra cultura y nuestras ideales. Otros que yo he conocidos son unos Hijos de P..a. Discuple la furia que tengo sobre los Americanos y lo que Usted ha dicho sobre Colombia es verdad nos faltan mucho para educar al pueblo. Pero yo digo con orgullo que el pueblo Colombiano por la mayoria somos nobles amables y buenos seres humanos. Amigo si alguna vez usted tenga una opportunidad conozca Colombia Conozca mi Cuidad de Armenia en el eje Cafetero y va ver la otra cara de Colombia. La cual le va dar muchos buenos recuerdos. Saludos y perdon por los insultos en contra los americanos.
Posted by: Colombiano at February 28, 2005 03:35 PM
Senor Otra cosa Mas Yo he conocido a muchos Cubanos en Colombia y para mi son muy amables y muy educados. Hay muchos Cubanos que estan radicados en Barranquilla( La pequena Cuba Colombiana) Yo personalmente no tengo nada en contra los Cubanos para son Latino Americanos que hablan mi idioma y tenien los mismos valores que nosotros los Colombianos. Su pais es hermoso un pais de mucha naturelza. Mis ideales politicos pueden estar en conflicto con los suyios pero respecto a su gente y respecto a su pais
Posted by: Colombiano at February 28, 2005 03:48 PM
"Si no fuera pro las drogas, tu pais no fuera nada. Menos que nada."
Okay Val,not for nothing but I take offence to that statement. Just because you have someone who posts some ignorant comment, I would have hoped you wouldn't sink to their level and post something equally baseless. We dislike being painted with a broad brush as much as the next guy. There is good and bad everywhere and in every bunch.
To always be equated with drugs is a painful thing for most Colombians. Drugs (from their involvement with the narcos to the guerillas and paramilitaries) have caused much pain in Colombia, which is a country rich in natural resources squandered by thieves (and murderers) on both sides.
Posted by: Gustavo at March 1, 2005 07:39 PM
Gustavo etoy en acuerdo con usted. Colombia es mucho mas que Drogas y violencia. Los Cubanos no deben de comentar o dar opiniones estupidas sobre Colombia. Colombia en un pais de mucha naturelza de gente buena y noble. Logicamente hay delicuentes como en cualquier pais . Lo que dana a Colombia son los malos gobiernos y la mala adminstracion del poder politico. Los gobiernos en America Latina no hacen nada por el pueblo. Pablo Escobar llamentablemente hizo mas por la gente pobre de Medellin que el propio gobierno puerco Colombiano. Yo personalmente tengo mis opiniones y apoyo cambio sociales para Colombia. Val Prieto te digo una cosa No insultes a mi pais si vos no conoces a mi pais. Yo no critico a su gente como he dicho he conocido Cubanos en Barranquilla y son amables gente alegre como la gente de la costa Colombiana. Estados Unidos puede tener mucho poder economico pero un pobre paladar por la vida. America Latina somos pobres pero sabemos como gozar como amar a la vida. Los Europeos son como nosotros los Latino Americanos.
Posted by: Colombiano at March 2, 2005 07:09 PM