So this Thursday the 11th, we will be playing a party put on by the Miami New Times at the Freedom Tower!
This historic building means a lot to me and my family. When the Castro regime came into power and political refugees flooded South Florida looking for a new start, the tower was taken over by the U.S. government to provide services to the immigrants. It contained in-processing services, basic medical and dental services, records on relatives already in the U.S. and relief aid for those starting a new life with nothing. For many thousands of immigrants, the tower provided nothing less than their freedom from Castro and the hardships Cuba had come to give them. It rightly earned its name then of Freedom Tower.*
My mother and grandmother came on a flight from Cuba and arrived to the Freedom Tower on July 4th, 1966. Independence Day in the US and now for them as well.
They slept in a long corridor of bunk beds, similar to military barracks, at the tower for 2 weeks before moving to Puerto Rico where the rest of our family was and where I was later born.
Now the building has been restored to its former glory after having fallen into disrepair in the 70's and 80's. Fun Fact: The Freedom Tower was used as a sniper's post in "Hit List", a season one episode from Miami Vice, where a hit man attempted to kill Crockett.**
Needless to say, we are honored to have been invited to play. If you'd like to come,
click here for the info.
hugstillweseeyouagain!
love,
cuci
*quoted from
"History of the Freedom Tower"**
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