All of Cuba paid tribute Tuesday to guerrilla commander Ernesto Che Guevara on the 40th anniversary of his assassination in Bolivia. The national ceremony took place in the morning in the central Cuban city of Santa Clara, presided over by First Vice-president Raul Castro and Revolutionary Commander Ramiro Valdes, with an estimated 10,000 people attending. While recovering Cuban leader Fidel Castro was not physically present; he published an article titled Che in today’s Cuban press. Ramiro Valdes said that Fidel and Che are always in the hearts of the Cuban people in their will to overcome all obstacles. The event served as a venue for the initiation of 250 first graders into the Pioneros children’s organization. Taking an oath to uphold the values taught by Che, those kids and their counterparts across the nation received their symbolic blue neckerchiefs. Miriam Yanet Martin, president of the Pioneros, told the new members that this is just the beginning of a long road ahead to continue the legacy of the young Che with a star on his beret, of Fidel, Raul and the Revolution. Che’s example is what will forge more like him, said Martin. Big dreams like his can only become reality through great sacrifices. This is our opportunity to live up to being revolutionaries, she added. Also present at the commemoration were Communist Party Politburo members Jose Ramon Machado Ventura and Culture Minister Abel Prieto Jimenez, Revolutionary Commander Guillermo Garcia, and members of the Secretariat and Central Committee of the Communist Party.
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