Picture by Gilberto González García

“Because among the people, there are many Camilos,” Fidel said with a very accurate statement, because Camilo is the people, and the people are Camilo. So it is stated by José Núñez Alvarado, who had the privilege of being a fighter under Camilo’s command.

Núñez, a mid-life man, whose face brings up an expression of nostalgia and pride-at the same time- states that Camilo was a really exceptional man of the people, demonstrated every time.

Concerned about his troop, and a supportive friend, values which characterized this man, a man of unquestionable height, who without any intention, went on to the history of Cuba as an exceptional heroe.

During the National Liberation War-this changed the destinies of Cuba definitively since January 1, 1959-his revolutionary quality of undeniable size; the founder of the Rebel Army, and one of its main chieftains; who, Commander Ernesto Guevara, with much righteousness said, “Not a single soldier, in this liberation war, has been comparable to Camilo…”

When he entered Havana, he greeted the people who euphorically acclaimed the Commander, as he passed through Dolores Avenue of Lawton neighborhood where he was born.

Camilo Cienfuegos Gorriarán, great among the great, left his imprint as a plain and humble man.

Of humble descent and with a people’s ascendancy, this favorite son of the people of Cuba, and noble patriot of the municipality of 10 de Octubre, never forgot his origin.

The presence of the third son of the Cienfuegos Gorriarán’s family is sheltered in every worthy Cuban’s heart. Today in the 83 anniversary of his birth, and today homage is paid to that man of the people, who dignified his family from his own existence.

Translator: Reinaldo Fernández
Date: February 28, 2015