The Guantanamo-born Jesús Lara Batista no longer wears olive green uniform. He became a skillful artesian weaver, with the same hands that years ago, held the rifle on the border perimeters with the illegal Yankee Naval Base to watch over the dream of his compatriots.
On the 62nd anniversary of the constitution of the Antonio Maceo Border Brigade, he takes a break of the work he is doing, sits down in the retirement of his home, located in the Rubén López Sabariego neighborhood in this city, and recalls memories and moments from yesteryear.
“I was an infantry teacher in Bayamo Province, when I was called to carry out that honorable mission of organizing, along with other brave colleagues, the task entrusted by Fidel. We were all young, I was 19 years old… I remember that we arrived at a Unit located in Niceto Pérez and from that very moment everything began to what it is today, “, he said.
Given the danger that the US military camp in Guantanamo Bay represented for Cuba, Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz indicated at the end of 1960 the creation of a special company to guarantee the defense of the border perimeter and prevent prevent illegal border crossings to the Yankee facility; On November 9, 1961, the Border Battalion emerged.
The members of that first front of defense of the Revolution have fulfilled their mission throughout these years. For Juan Lara Batista, founder of the glorious Border Brigade, love for the Homeland, pride and commitment are inextricably linked to his life.
Traslated by Liubis Balart Martínez
