the network for
Operation Pedro Pan

The picture of me and you in 1963 was taken at the Cloughs house in the dining room. I can tell by the wall paper. Love from your sis, Marga

Message by Margarita Elia Prats Lora | Jul 6th 2010

Benito has uploaded new photos.

Status update | Jun 15th 2010

A message from Myself (Benito) to all who visit my page: I went to funeral services for my friend on Saturday. He had a massive heart attack. Like me he came on the Peter Pan Flights (his page is not filled in and may never be filled in) Some folks sympathetic to the current Cuban government were also at the funeral and said that he always suffered because of Peter Pan Exodus but that I, Benito, had overcome the trauma. I responded that I am sure that there are ten times as many children (or more) and young adults in Cuba that suffered ten or more times the trauma at the hands of the communist and have stories that can not be recorded because of fear or because of the communist media block. I know of two stories; my cousin (one year younger) who went to these camps and suffered but that I have not been able to discuss the pain; and I know an older friend who was in her twenties and tells us many stories to this day of all the trials and sufferings she experienced in Cuba - she could not wait to get out with her Mother but had to wait for her friends who arrived earlier to the US to request their exit. She had to leave her mother alone in her house and go to these camps to pull crops and become infested with lice and tics for the communist regime. she tells many tails of the suffering she experience physical, verbal and emotional. She was fortunate to be with a group of girls from her church who protected each other from abuse but to this day she is still suffering from the trauma as indicated by many accounts in her stories. There are probably many others who have died or can not find a place (like this Peter Pan Site) to tell their stories and get all this off their chest. I should have probably shut up at the funeral like I normally do and not react to these wicked tales from the Communist propaganda machine of how bad it was here because of Peter Pan Exodus but I know in my heart that it would have been far worse for all of us to have stayed in Cuba. Mami and Papi made a very intelligent, very calculated, extremely painful decision to send us here for our own good because they loved us. It may skip our generation and a few other generations but somewhere down the line parents will have to make this decision again - to love your children so much that you are willing to place them in the hands of God for just a few moments so they will not suffer as you know you will suffer when they are gone and separated from you. This is how I truly feel and I love Mami and Papi with all my heart then, now and always. Love to all - your Brother Benny

Message by Benny | Apr 19th 2010

What a lovely picture !! All of the generation taking care and loving the newest generation.. You can tell that there was LOVEEEEEE !! Write your story; it's not easy but at least you will be able to share it with us; which we have gone thru the same pain.. you take care..

Message by Ileana Arriola (Minico) | Jun 18th 2009