It is just impossible to watch them without feeling moved and the heart beating fast. They are the clothes of a five-year old kid, the last combination his mother put him on. It was also the last time Elizabeth Brotons dressed him: a small pullover with orange pants and coat. This was the cloth he wore on November 25, 1999 when two fishermen rescued him on the open sea. One of them was Sam Ciancio, who later returned Juan Miguel Gonzalez- Elian’s father-, what he had kept with zeal.
Since its donation to the Battle of Ideas Museum, the piece had been for more than a decade saved until 2013 when it was placed in the Exposition Area, one of the most relevant facts in this institution, said Danim Perez the director.
“It is a piece of unquestionable value because it joined to a symbol of a people that on June 28, 2000, after seven months of hard struggle, managed to bring the little kid back to his Homeland. It will be a moment of great sorrow, as it was during the official presentation.”
This museum was founded on July 13, 2001 and this exhibition is celebrating its first anniversary. No one but Teresa Rodriguez Sanchez has been so close to Elian’s clothes.
“It’s an endless feeling. I felt it the first day I had it in my hands. I used to take it out to air it as part of its conservation. I now clean the showcase every week and when I start putting it there again, I close my eyes and imagine him alone adrift. It is really impressive, but is part of the life he lived and it is here.”
There are about 3,932 pieces exposed and stored treasured by the museum, the majority of them are documents with political-ideological nature from a guardian center, she noted, of evidences related to the kidnapping, claim for Elian’s return, and other valuable materials, legacies for the present and future of the nation.
We should mention, the director said, the accusing Marti (replica of that at the Anti-imperialist Tribune in Havana) is what we first see when you get in and the silver cross and marcasite Reverend Joan Brown Campell took off and gave it to Juan Miguel as a gift for Elian in his return. Reverend Brown was a very important person in the battle for the return of Elian.
“We treasure memorable graphics like those from the American Indians who travelled to Cuba and offered all they could, a magic-religious mass for Juan Miguel so he would be able to have the doors open when he arrives to the United States (U.S.) to claim for the return of his child with all his rights. We have here the birch branches used in the ceremony.
“We keep with great zeal, a diary from the Cuban anti terrorist fighter held in the US for fighting terrorism Gerardo Hernandez Nordelo that tells his serving as combatant in Angola. He traveled to Angola on July 14, a day after the foundation of this museum.”
Since it was founded up-to-day
The historical leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro Ruz founded the museum on July 14, 2001. By then, he wrote in the visitors’ book: “The first in Cuba and the world. There will be others like this one, but the idea was born here and it will be the school and example for the rest. The Battle of Ideas can neither be lost nor will be; humanity depends on it.”
This museum is in Cardenas, Matanzas’ city where Elian was born and lives. This institution has received more than 540, 000 people from 60 nations and among them highlight 15 heads of States and other outstanding leaders and relevant personalities like the recently deceased Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Danim Perezstresses the museum has not stopped exhibiting, promoting and preserving the funds that classify among the most valuable of the Cuban culture.
“We have extended its halls to the Popular Councils with expositions of how important are the programs of the Revolution, the struggle for the release of the Cuban Five antiterrorist fighters held in the US, where there is still a lot to do.
But there is also the communitarian job, the support to the electoral processes, an integral performance awarded with the Neighborhood Price granted by the National Committees for the Defense of the Revolution.”
There is also an important cultural movement that has brought life to prestigious projects like Suerte de Cangrejo, a space devoted to rescue the ballad, although there are few activities nowadays, it virtually saw the birth of the popular singer Tony Avila and has offered its scenarios to memorable performances like those of Sara Gonzalez and other relevant singers.
It is a museum for all times. It belongs to the Minister of Culture. Little by little they are creating conditions for the reparation of some of the constructions damages of the facility.
According to Carlos Torrens, provincial director of Culture, the fact that the museum is in the former fire station, one of the oldest buildings in Cardenas City has brought some inconvenient things.
“The facility, which will receive complete reparation, has tall doors with heavy wood, so the doorframe has separated a bit from the wall, and they need carpentry work like the floors and the stairs in need to be fixed among other priorities.”
Torrens believes this museum has to talk for all times.
“It has very relevant things from the example of a leader with his people in an unprecedented battle for the return of a child, up to the demonstrations of a restless father together with his son that has an endless gratitude with all those that helped them, until he could finally manage to huge his beloved son.
