Red Cross

It was in 1937 when by a resolution of the Cuban Red Cross Society, the Sanitary Brigade of the Municipal Committee of the Knights of the Red Cross was created in Güines being Commander Ramón García and Lieutenant Nicolás (Kolín) García Curbelo its guides and mentors.

Among the founding members, besides the two already named, there were Dr. Abelardo Garcés, Dr. Rafael Carrión, Armando León, Daniel Rodríguez, Marcos Gutiérrez and Dr. Benito Torres Lombera as Director of the Health Department.

Years later, Dr. Ángel Montes Ceberio (Papín) reorganized the Brigade, Dr. Rafael Carrión being appointed as Commander and Manuel García and C. Saavedra as Lieutenants. Other distinguished members of this worthy institution from Güines were Raúl Torres Pardal, Dr. Emilio Rubio, Pedro Rodríguez, Dr. Félix Portela, William de Gracia, Eng. Helio Núñez Lastra, René Torres, Jorge de la Peña, Eduardo Celdrán, Raúl Espiñera and others. This Section that could be called Masculine had more than 50 stretcher-bearers to render assistance to those in need.

The Feminine Section of Güines Red Cross was also very important, organized by Dr. Jorge Celdrán Iglesias, being its Chief, Lieutenant Aida García Curbelo with Sergeant Mimí Antuña and Corporal Silvia Pérez, having 20 stretcher-bearers.

They performed a magnificent, humanitarian and patriotic labor, giving the subtle feminine touch in their task to console, cure and give hope to those victims that had suffered so much in their struggle against the elements.

Güines Red Cross throughout its history carried out untold rescue, recovery and medical attention acts, especially when public calamities would devastate the area, such as hurricanes, floods, fires and other kind of emergencies. Its rescue, recovery and resettlement works were important and decisive to the victims of the hurricane that strongly whipped Güines on October 1944, leaving many residents of the Villa without shelter, as well as the great floods that followed the hurricane due to the incessant rains that fell, that greatly affected the rural areas of the Municipality.

Güines Red Cross had its headquarters in the building located on Maceo Street (formerly Reina Street) between Havana and Trujillo Streets.

Its members always distinguished themselves by their discipline and good demeanor in all public acts where they participated, in and out of Güines. It had a well-stocked first aid kit with all kinds of medical and first aid supplies.

Around the middle of the 50’s the Committee of the Thousand, an apolitical civic organization working for the improvement of streets and social services of the Villa, donated to Güines Red Cross a brand new four-wheel drive ambulance truck used by the Brigade to reach difficult places to render help to victims and those affected.

Güines Red Cross after 22 years of social services was dissolved upon the arrival of the Communist system in 1959. The atheistic persons that have our homeland in irons did not allow the symbol of the cross, and its selfless members, in its vast majority, took the uncertain road to exile, preferable to live under the chains of such shameful system.

Translated by the staff of Círculo Güinero de Los Ángeles

Continue to: Güines: Dramatization of the Passion of Christ


			Red Cross It was in 1937 when by a resolution of the Cuban Red Cross Society, the Sanitary Brigade of the Municipal Committee of the Knights of the Red Cross was created in Güines being Commander Ramón García and Lieutenant Nicolás (Kolín) García Curbelo its guides and mentors. Among the founding members, besides the two already named, there were Dr. Abelardo Garcés, Dr. Rafael Carrión, Armando León, Daniel Rodríguez, Marcos Gutiérrez and Dr. Benito Torres Lombera as Director of the Health Department. Years later, Dr. Ángel Montes Ceberio (Papín) reorganized the Brigade, Dr. Rafael Carrión being appointed as Commander and Manuel García and C. Saavedra as Lieutenants. Other distinguished members of this worthy institution from Güines were Raúl Torres Pardal, Dr. Emilio Rubio, Pedro Rodríguez, Dr. Félix Portela, William de Gracia, Eng. Helio Núñez Lastra, René Torres, Jorge de la Peña, Eduardo Celdrán, Raúl Espiñera and others. This Section that could be called Masculine had more than 50 stretcher-bearers to render assistance to those in need. The Feminine Section of Güines Red Cross was also very important, organized by Dr. Jorge Celdrán Iglesias, being its Chief, Lieutenant Aida García Curbelo with Sergeant Mimí Antuña and Corporal Silvia Pérez, having 20 stretcher-bearers. They performed a magnificent, humanitarian and patriotic labor, giving the subtle feminine touch in their task to console, cure and give hope to those victims that had suffered so much in their struggle against the elements. Güines Red Cross throughout its history carried out untold rescue, recovery and medical attention acts, especially when public calamities would devastate the area, such as hurricanes, floods, fires and other kind of emergencies. Its rescue, recovery and resettlement works were important and decisive to the victims of the hurricane that strongly whipped Güines on October 1944, leaving many residents of the Villa without shelter, as well as the great floods that followed the hurricane due to the incessant rains that fell, that greatly affected the rural areas of the Municipality. Güines Red Cross had its headquarters in the building located on Maceo Street (formerly Reina Street) between Havana and Trujillo Streets. Its members always distinguished themselves by their discipline and good demeanor in all public acts where they participated, in and out of Güines. It had a well-stocked first aid kit with all kinds of medical and first aid supplies. Around the middle of the 50’s the Committee of the Thousand, an apolitical civic organization working for the improvement of streets and social services of the Villa, donated to Güines Red Cross a brand new four-wheel drive ambulance truck used by the Brigade to reach difficult places to render help to victims and those affected. Güines Red Cross after 22 years of social services was dissolved upon the arrival of the Communist system in 1959. The atheistic persons that have our homeland in irons did not allow the symbol of the cross, and its selfless members, in its vast majority, took the uncertain road to exile, preferable to live under the chains of such shameful system. Translated by the staff of Círculo Güinero de Los Ángeles Continue to: Güines: Dramatization of the Passion of Christ