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Birth of the Cuban Revolution
On July 26, 1953, Castro and a small group of men in an attempt to overthrow a military outpost called Moncada Barracks. After this Castro & Che fled to Mexico. -
Exiles Return
On this date Castro, Che and 2 other men sailed the Granma, a tiny little boat from Mexcio to Cuba. On this boat, the plot for the Cuban Revlution was born. When the boat made it to shore they were betrayed by their peasant guide. Batista ambushed the med. Afterward, only 12 of the 82 men regrouped to live in the Sierra Madre mountains. -
July 26 Movement
On July 26, 1959 Castro led a small group of armed men into to Havana to over throw Batista -
March into Havana
On January 8, 1960 Castro and his guirella soldiers marched into the center of Havana. He made a charasmatic speech and officially took power of Cuba that day. Below, newpaper article http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=348&dat=19590102&id=LIsEAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cjEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6464,152949 -
Operation Peter Pan
From Nov.1960 to October 1962, operation peter pan was in effect. Cuban paretns sent their children to live in the United States with foster families until they could be reunited. Often times MANY years later. -
Bay of Pigs
The Bay of Pigs Invasion was a group of trained Cuban exiles that were dropped off in the Bayou Cochino and left without military support - Kennedy withdrew military support after the exiles landed leaving them to die.
http://www.history.com/topics/bay-of-pigs-invasion -
Camarioca Boatlift
While this has never been formerly documented at some point in the beginning of 1965 the first boat lift from Cuba departed from the port of Camarioca. My maternal great grandmother arrived in the United States on this boatlift. -
Freedom Flights
Freedom flights lasted from 1965 - 1973. These were done, 2 flights a day to from Havana to Miami. My father arrived in August of 1965 on one of these flights. They terminated in 1973 -
Freedom Flights Reinstated
Under Jimmy Carter, freedom flights reinstated for political prisoners. One of my uncles - imprisoned for 0ver 10 years - and his family arrived in Miami on one of thes flights. -
Mariel Boat Lift
From April 1980 to October 1980 exiles began arriving in Miami. My grandfathers sister, children, nieces and nephews began arriving. You can read their story in "Let the Bastards Go." My aunt is Marta - the one that convinces the Espcopalian priest to get my relatives out. -
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July 26