February 25, 2006
Crosses
Just got back from the Cuban Memorial ceremony and I am a complete basket case. You can see a millions pictures of those 10,000 crosses all laid out but it doesnt even come close to being physically standing there amid that sea of remembrance. It is unbelieveably overwhelming.
I am finding it hard to put words together right now to describe today's experience. I think I need to let today soak in some more. Compose myself and rein in the emotions. Else what you guys would be reading would be an incoherent babble.
Julio Zangroniz - bless him - took about 200 pictures which we downloaded unto a laptop and Ill be going through tonight, most likely through tears.
Trust me when I say this, seeing ten thousand crosses with names and dates and names of cities in Cuba and in some cases how the person died - and in every single case seeking freedom - it does something to you. It changes something inside you.
I hope tomorrow, after having calmed down a bit and getting a good night's sleep, I can come even remotely close to relating just what the Cuban memorial really is.
I was gonna write the following with the real Cuban Memorial post, but I need to get it out right now:
While la revolucion and fidel castro put up flags, free Cubans put up crosses for their dead.
Posted by Val Prieto at February 25, 2006 08:13 PM
Comments
Thank you for sharing your experience, Val. You have a gift for words and expressing what so many of us feel. Thank you for speaking for us, especially those of us who could not be there today.
As powerful as the images and descriptions of the memorial are, I know it cannot compare with being there, to know that each cross represents a life taken by a tyrant. All day, I have thought of those crosses and all that they represent. At most, only one of the victims remembered, Cornelio Rojas, was a member of my extended family. But really, all the victims are my family — my fathers, mothers, grandparents, brothers, sisters, etc. — for like them I am Cuban in my heart and soul. They are my blood.
We must never forget the lives lost to the tyrant. We must not forget his crimes. We must not forget.
Posted by: Marc at February 25, 2006 08:43 PM
Courage, Val!
Posted by: Manola B at February 25, 2006 09:47 PM
Based on this post Val I had a dream last night that Fidel was somewhere and his security was lapsed. People were able to walk right up to him. He did NOT make it through my dream. So there's always hope. (Why I'm dreaming about him and Cuba is weird, yes. But your words were that powerful I guess).
Posted by: Kathleen A at February 26, 2006 09:41 AM