By Graciela Ramírez and Yaimi Ravelo on August 19, 2022 from Matanzas
Photos: Yaimi Ravelo
We are running 2 reports from our correspondents in Cuba who covered the moving farewell on Friday of a grieving nation to the 14 firefighters who lost their lives in the Matanzas tragedy. – editorial
Since the most serious fire in Cuba’s history broke out on August 5 at the Supertanker base in Matanzas, time and again we have come to this city to follow up on the raging fire and express our solidarity.
The battle of the firefighters to put it out for a week, the search of the forensic experts to find the bodies of the missing 14 bomberos, the attention to the patients injured by the accident. The evacuation of the inhabitants of the industrial zone… Everything this town of Matanzas has lived through in these 14 days, which seems like an eternity… So much pain and so much gallantry faced it.
And here we are today, embracing the firefighters who have lost their colleagues without being able to say anything but Thank You!
Accompanying the relatives in the Museum of the Firemen of Matanzas, where 14 small boxes wrapped in the sacred flag of the solitary star shake all the people that in incessant line passes, crosses themselves, leaves flowers, lights candles, makes the military salute, bows in front of them as a sign of respect or throws a kiss with the hand in the heart.
There is a lot of feeling and emotion. There are no words, nor clever lines that can reflect accurately the real dimension of the capacity of resistance, heroism and love of this Cuba; it is a thousand times heroic.
The Cuban people will never forget them.
Even the Sky Cried in Matanzas
There were so many flowers that the people brought, that every hour the workers who helped in the organization had to make room for even more that the people of Matanzas carried in their hands in an incessant line. In silence, with great respect and delicacy, the women collected the previous ones in large wicker baskets and indicated without words, only with a brief gesture the place where to deposit them. Sunflowers, lilies and butterflies, white and red roses formed a large blanket in front of the small urns that hold so much heroism.
The farewell from the Museum of the Firemen of Matanzas was as sad as it was moving. It is always difficult to say goodbye to those we love.
To honor the sons, fathers and brothers who gave their precious lives to save those of the people and to accompany the families in their deep sorrow, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, President Miguel Díaz-Canel, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero the president of the National Assembly of People’s Power, Esteban Lazo, Vice President Salvador Valdés, the General Secretary of the Federation of Cuban Women, Teresa Amarelle Boue, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba in Matanzas, Susely Morfa, together with leaders of the government, the Party and the Youth.
They were the ones who placed the last roses.
It was 6:25 p.m. when we shuddered again to see 14 young men of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba carrying the 14 urns wrapped in the Lone Star flag. The ceremonial band marked the solemn step, behind them their loved ones, relatives and the people.
It began to rain, as if the sky was also bidding them farewell with tears.
Graciela Ramirez is the editor of Resumen Latino Americano – Cuba. Yaimi Ravelo is a photo journalist and a Resumen Latinoamericano – Cuba correspondent.
Source: Resumen Latinoamericano – Cuba
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