Today, October 19th, 2011 marks a very important milestone in my life. On a day like this, fifty years ago, I arrived at the Miami Airport with my two younger brothers, Raul and Carlos.
Your story, like many others, is very similar to mine. I also attended el colegio Nuestra Senora de Lourdes en la Vibora with my two other sisters, Mary Lourdes and Delia Maria. The nuns used to refer to us as the "ramitos". My oldest sister, Mary Lourdes, was 14 1/2 years old when she left Cuba. It was a pleasure to have read your story.
Marcia "Caridad"
On this site, which was officially known as the Florida City Shelter of the Catholic Welfare Bureau’s Cuban Children’s Program, thousands of Operation Pedro Pan children found refuge from Communist Cuba between 1961 and 1966. Operation Pedro Pan was conceived and organized by Monsignor Bryan O. Walsh of the Archdiocese of Miami and James Baker, headmaster of Ruston Academy in Havana, Cuba, at the request of parents who sought to prevent Communist indoctrination of their children. It was financed largely by the United States Government with full support of the Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson administrations, and was supervised by the State of Florida. Between December 1960 and October 1962, over 14,000 Pedro Pan children arrived in South Florida. The Florida City Shelter was the largest of the Operation’s facilities in the state. It housed girls 5-19 years old and boys under 13 who lived in home units under the care of exiled Cuban couples who served as house parents. Its day-to-day operations were managed by Catholic priests and Sisters of St. Philip Neri. Many Operation Pedro Pan children went on to plant deep roots in the region and made significant contributions to Florida and the nation.
A FLORIDA HERITAGE LANDMARK
SPONSORED BY OPERATION PEDRO PAN GROUP, INC.
AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF STATE
2012
Memorial Mass for Msgr. Bryan O. Walsh
Date: Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: St. Michael Catholic Church
2987 West Flaggler St.
Miami, Fl
Please join us as in this Memorial Mass to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of his passing.
Carmencita tienes toda la razon.Tenemos que agradecer a nuestros padres por sacarnos de la eterna pesadilla que sufren los que alla quedaron.Nuestra niñez fue tronchada por ese mal que todavia perdura. Dios y La Virgen siempre han estado con nosotros. Ahora nos recompensan con dejarnos " jugar" en nuestra vejez y disfrutar con gran alegria cada momento que nos podemos reunir.Cariños....Melvin
Maria del Carmen says: Fifty years ago I arrived at this land of freedom and opportunity thanks to my parent's courage and sacrifice. Gracias mami y papi!!!
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Maria del Carmen has uploaded new photos.
Status update | Apr 3rd 2013
Buenos dias Carmen, yo llegue a los estados unidos en sept 1961 tenia 17 anos. me alegro que se encuentra bien
Message by
Fernando B. Menendez Balseiro
| Feb 23rd 2013
Your story, like many others, is very similar to mine. I also attended el colegio Nuestra Senora de Lourdes en la Vibora with my two other sisters, Mary Lourdes and Delia Maria. The nuns used to refer to us as the "ramitos". My oldest sister, Mary Lourdes, was 14 1/2 years old when she left Cuba. It was a pleasure to have read your story. Marcia "Caridad"
Message by
Marcia Caridad Ramos Gonzalez
| Feb 23rd 2013
The unveiling of the Florida City marker and street dedication last Friday was a very nice and significant event. Good job, OPPG!
Message by
Eloisa Echazabal
| Nov 22nd 2012
Maria del Carmen has uploaded new photos.
Status update | Nov 20th 2012
On this site, which was officially known as the Florida City Shelter of the Catholic Welfare Bureau’s Cuban Children’s Program, thousands of Operation Pedro Pan children found refuge from Communist Cuba between 1961 and 1966. Operation Pedro Pan was conceived and organized by Monsignor Bryan O. Walsh of the Archdiocese of Miami and James Baker, headmaster of Ruston Academy in Havana, Cuba, at the request of parents who sought to prevent Communist indoctrination of their children. It was financed largely by the United States Government with full support of the Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson administrations, and was supervised by the State of Florida. Between December 1960 and October 1962, over 14,000 Pedro Pan children arrived in South Florida. The Florida City Shelter was the largest of the Operation’s facilities in the state. It housed girls 5-19 years old and boys under 13 who lived in home units under the care of exiled Cuban couples who served as house parents. Its day-to-day operations were managed by Catholic priests and Sisters of St. Philip Neri. Many Operation Pedro Pan children went on to plant deep roots in the region and made significant contributions to Florida and the nation. A FLORIDA HERITAGE LANDMARK SPONSORED BY OPERATION PEDRO PAN GROUP, INC. AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF STATE 2012
Message by
Carmencita Romanach
| Nov 18th 2012
Maria del Carmen has uploaded new photos.
Status update | Nov 18th 2012
Memorial Mass for Msgr. Bryan O. Walsh Date: Tuesday, December 20, 2011 Time: 7 p.m. Place: St. Michael Catholic Church 2987 West Flaggler St. Miami, Fl Please join us as in this Memorial Mass to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of his passing.
Message by
Carmencita Romanach
| Dec 13th 2011
Carmencita tienes toda la razon.Tenemos que agradecer a nuestros padres por sacarnos de la eterna pesadilla que sufren los que alla quedaron.Nuestra niñez fue tronchada por ese mal que todavia perdura. Dios y La Virgen siempre han estado con nosotros. Ahora nos recompensan con dejarnos " jugar" en nuestra vejez y disfrutar con gran alegria cada momento que nos podemos reunir.Cariños....Melvin
Message by
Melvin F Noriega Plasencia
| Oct 19th 2011
Maria del Carmen says: Fifty years ago I arrived at this land of freedom and opportunity thanks to my parent's courage and sacrifice. Gracias mami y papi!!!
Status update | Oct 18th 2011
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