Cuba evokes Commander of the Revolution Juan Almeida

HAVANA, Cuba, Sep 11 (ACN) Fifteen years after his decease, Cuba honors Commander of the Revolution Juan Almeida Bosque as a combatant, political leader and prolific creator.

In a post on X, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel referred to Almeida as a hero who lives on after his death and praised the late soldier’s bravery in combat, his social leadership, and his beautiful and transcendent artistic work.

On his end, Esteban Lazo Hernández, President of the National Assembly of People's Power, stressed that Almeida’s example of devotion to the Homeland and the Revolution is a guide for the Cuban people and recalled the Commander’s well-known cry, Aquí no se rinde nadie! (Nobody surrenders here!) at the battle of Alegría de Pío (1956) in response to the enemy's call to surrender soon after the nascent Rebel Army’s baptism of fire.

Likewise, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero described Almeida as a “humble, ever-smiling patriot with a deep human sensitivity who was always faithful to Fidel and the Revolution”.

Juan Almeida Bosque (February 17, 1927 - September 11, 2009) participated in the assault on the Moncada Barracks (July 26, 1953) and was imprisoned before going into exile in Mexico, where he joined the 82-strong expeditionary force that sailed to Cuba onboard the yacht Granma to begin the guerrilla warfare against the tyranny of Fulgencio Batista, during which he became a Commander.

After the triumph of the Revolution in 1959, he assumed various responsibilities as a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Party since its founding in 1965, including the vice presidency of the Council of State and the presidency of the Combatants Association.

Almeida also created many musical and literary works, including more than 300 songs and twelve books.