When Cuba Was Reborn

Havana, Jan 8 (Prensa Latina) One week took the guerrilla caravan led
by Fidel Castro to get from the Sierra Maestra mountains to Havana,
where an apotheosis awaited the victors along each city, village and
town those first days of 1959.

The New Year had brought dawn on people who had lived in fear, anger
and discontent for so long.

It was Havana's turn on January 8, 49 years to date, to receive the
bearded heros. The capital was like an expectant sweetheart, bathed in
the light of a warm January morning, filled to the brims with joyful
and boastful people waving flags, posters or just their hands.

The man known to some but stranger to most, was at the front of his
men, on a jeep at times and on armoured vehicles others, but never
hidden, visible and stretching hands of thousands who greeted him by
his name, Fidel.

>From the start, his fearless and friendly attitude had a personal
impact on people who watched in awe. He rejected going to Batista's
fortress of Columbia by helicopter, he felt disgusted when he stopped
at the Presidential Palace and without the help of soldiers asked the
crowd to open the way so he could continue.

To top the day, the rally in Columbia where he spoke of how difficult
it would be from then on, as opposition would come from inside and
outside the country. He turned to the second most loved officer in his
army, Camilo Cienfuegos, to whom he asked, "How am I going, Camilo?"
and a white pigeon nested on his shoulder, to forever become an icon.

Young and old Cubans present that day have carried that image with them
for almost half a century.

ef PL-1

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