Cuban authorities recall Mariana Grajales

HAVANA, Cuba, July 13 (ACN) In a post on X to commemorate the 210th anniversary of the birth of Mariana Grajales, Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz praised her integrity by quoting José Martí’s words about the Mother of the Homeland, when he said, "(…) there was so much dignity and greatness in her humble life that when you write about her it is as if you do it from the root of your soul".

In a separate message, Roberto Morales Ojeda, Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, wrote: “On the 210th anniversary of her birth, we pay Mariana Grajales the best possible tribute by maintaining Cuba's independence and full sovereignty”.

Mariana Grajales Cuello (1815-1893), a Cuban patriot and mother of the pro-independence fighters Maceos, instilled in her children the need to struggle for Cuban freedom and set from home an exceptional example of humane conduct in a completely hostile environment.

An unyielding mambi fighter, she devoted her life to achieving Cuban independence, an effort in which she proudly and lovingly engaged her husband and all her children.

The first to fall was her husband Marcos Maceo who, with the rank of sergeant, died in the battle of San Agustín de Aguarás on May 14, 1869. Rafael, who had earned brigadier general stripes, was taken prisoner at the end of the Little War and sent to prison in Morocco, where he died on May 2, 1882. Miguel, a lieutenant colonel, fell in combat alongside his brother Fermín, and Julio, a second lieutenant, died heroically on December 12, 1870.

After the war of '68, Mariana had only four sons left: Antonio and José, who would fall gloriously in the heroic deeds of '95, and Tomás and Marcos, who survived despite their many scars. Her daughters Baldomera and Dominga also joined the fray and worked in field hospitals.

Mariana died in exile in Kingston, Jamaica, at the age of 78.