Remembering Che Guevara
Euphoria overtook Villa Clara when Che went back to the province during the last days of December 1959 to celebrate the first anniversary of the victory of the Cuban Revolution and to pay tribute to his colleagues who had died in combat
2011-01-04 | 15:13:56 EST
Ovidio Díaz Rodríguez recalls that were unforgettable days, as was witnessed in contemporary newspapers. Photo: FileZoomThose days everything happened so fast that Che, one of the architects of the triumph over Batista’s dictatorship, had to leave immediately to Havana to occupy the Cabaña Fortress. Consequently, hundreds of people were left with the desire of seeing him, shaking his hand or saying a couple of words.
So it’s easy to understand the euphoria that overtook Villa Clara when Che went back to the province during the last days of December 1959 to celebrate the first anniversary of the revolutionary triumph and to pay tribute to his colleagues who had died in combat.
Days to remember
On December 26, 1959, the province of Villa Clara began celebrations for the Freedom Week, with numerous activities with the massive participation of its citizens.
On December 28, the people opened the doors of their houses to the Rebel Army to offer bed and breakfast to the combatants, and the celebrations held on December 29 were dedicated to the workers.
According to reports by the El Villareño newspaper, the province of Villa Clara had never experienced such a moment before, referring to the tribute paid to the heroes of the Revolution and the celebrations for the new era of freedom and equality.
Very happy
The leader of the Popular Socialist Party in the former province of Las Villas, Ovidio Díaz, talked to Juventud Rebelde about that first celebration that took place 52 years ago.
Che was very happy and the people cheered and greeted him as if he were their friend, said Díaz.
“I remember that when Che arrived in Vidal Park, after having been to the place where Batista’s armored train was derailed and taken, he decided to go to the old Police Headquarters, located in front of Carmen Park, where Captain Roberto Rodríguez, ‘El Vaquerito,’ died in combat,” said Díaz. There Che Guevara presided over an emotive tribute to Rodríguez.
Díaz says that afterwards, thousands of people from different parts of the city met in the Paseo de la Paz, where there was an act held where Commander Che Guevara was the only speaker.
“It was tremendous and there was an indescribable enthusiasm. It was a good round off of all the signs of affection that Che and the Rebel Army had received,” Díaz said.
That was the first and only time that Che Guevara spoke during a rally in Villa Clara and the only time he went to this province to celebrate the triumph of the Cuban Revolution.
