Raul Castro sends congratulations to largest Cuban grassroots organization

HAVANA, Cuba, Sep 28 (acn) Cuban President Raul Castro sent a message of congratulations to the national staff of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution and all members of the largest community organization on its 55th birthday today.

In his message from the city of New York, where the president is meeting a tight agenda these days, he acknowledged the role and the work carried out by the organization, founded 55 years ago by Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro.

The CDRs as the organization is known by its acronyms groups over 8 million 500 thousand members, and community cells amount to more than 136 thousand throughout the island.

The community organization, which groups the neighbors living in each bloc has carried out significant tasks over the years, such as the collection of blood donations, support of vaccination campaigns, organization of political and social activities, support of actions aimed at guaranteeing local order and the security of the communities against crimes, voluntary or community work, and many others.

All Cubans are marking on September 28 the 55 birthday of their grassroots organization with several cultural activities as it been a tradition to gather and celebrate in the eve of each anniversary.