Cubans Pay Homage to Father of the Homeland CUBA, February 27, 2009. Cubans in the eastern province of Granma today paid tribute to Cuban Independence Hero Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, considered the Father of Cuban Homeland, who was killed in combat against Spanish colonialists 135 years ago. Workers with the museum, which is the home where Cespedes was born, laid wreaths at the monument raised to the independence hero and to the author of the Cuban National Anthem Perucho Figueredo, at the local plaza, which Cespedes once called the Square of the Revolution. Tribute to Cespedes was also paid at the place known as La Demajagua, in the municipality of Manzanillo, where the hero began the first Cuban war of independence against Spanish colonial rule and slavery. Activities paying honor to the Father of Cuban Homeland also include a colloquium on Friday evening, at the local museum, on the life and work of the independence hero. A digital encyclopedia was presented last night at the place, which includes the bibliography of Cespedes, maps, photos of his family and other personal documents. Historians and other scholars proposed that the compilation be used in all Cuban schools as part of the patriotic education of the new generations. Carlos Manuel de Cespedes (1819-1847) was a poet, actor, theatre stage director, critic, translator and narrator; he promoted the free and democratic republic, he declared the abolition of slavery and warned about the US annexationist interest towards Cuba. (acn)
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