George Merino - E.P.D.

For the past few weeks or so, knowing that today's 5 year anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks was approaching, I havent been able to stop thinking about George Merino, whose tribute it was my honor to write for the 2,996 project. Now, I dont really have much information about the man save for a few stories here and there on the internet, but somehow I feel like I have known him all my life. His life resonates with mine.

I had wanted to learn much more about George's life. His parent's names, where he went to school, did he go to college and where? What was his favorite baseball team? Was he a Jets fan or did he prefer the Giants? How did he take his cafecitos, dulce o amargo? But in reality and in retrospect, it would have been strictly up to George himself to share those things with me.

I did specifically requested the honor of writing my tribute for George because after having read a couple of articles and tributes to him on the internet, I learned that he and I had two very important things in common: we both exiled from Cuba in 1968 as children and we both worked towards making a difference for the freedom of our country of birth. George avidly listened to news from Cuba via short wave radio every day, first thing in the morning and last thing at night before bed.

I guess I could go on attempting to make comparisons and string together similarites, but I wont. I will just cling to my belief that perhaps had George survived that fateful day, he might have somehow, someday, found his way here to this blog. And maybe he would have become a friend like so many here that I have grown to love and be a part of this community - our community.

Maybe I'll have written a piece that reminded George of his childhood. And maybe he'd have responded in kind, giving us all glimpses, like so many of you do, of life here in the diaspora. Maybe he would had offered us a few more of life's little gems.

And like any good friend, perhaps we wouldnt have seen eye to eye on everything, but Im sure we would have respected each other's points of view. Agreed to disagree agreeably and not let such trivial matters come between two men with much in common and admiration towards each other. Two men, friends, who shared a goal of one day returning to la patria they both left as children and who have worked and longed for her freedom for so very long.

I will never forget George Merino despite the fact that I never met him. His name and person will be forever etched in my memory and my soul. And to his family and friends I can but offer my deepest sympathies and sincerest condolences, and my heartfelt wish that our destiny had been different.

And to Olga and Tania Merino I offer a promise that is what little solace this humble writer can offer: One day, when I return to our place of birth and step upon the soil of a free Cuba, I will be carrying George Merino of Matanzas with me in my heart like a fallen brother in arms.

Posted by Val Prieto at September 11, 2006 11:25 AM

Comments

Posted by: mario at September 11, 2006 10:42 PM