Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-29
KENNEDY
Cuban Brigade Is Honored
Continued From Page Al

Continued From Page Al
one Cuban fighter who is 81
years old, another SO and an
other 81.
Il always had the impress
sion that the brigade was made
up mostly of young men," he
remarked. He described the
older fighters as representing
"the spirit Of the Cuban revo-
luton in its best sense"
Recalls Spanish Rule
Recalling that most of the
brigade had Just come from
behind prison walls, the Presi-
dent said they had left behind
in Cuba more than 6 million
persons who are also in a very
real sense in a prison"
He charged that, as Cuba
once was under Spanish rule
before the Spanish American
War, the island again is CON
trolled by a foreign monarch"
He described the freedom
fighters brigade as "the point
of the spear, the arrows head"
and urged its members and
other Cuban exiles to sub
merge any momentary differ
ences and work together ito
the united end that Cuba is
free"
Sees Free Spirits
The President told the free
dom fighters that their con-
duct and valor at the Bay of
Pigs and throughout their i'm
prisonment ARE proof that.
Castro and his fellow
iictators may rule nations,
hey do not rule people; that
hey may imprison bodies, but |
hey do not inprison spirits"
BY Helping win their freedom |
rom Cuban prisons, Mr.. Ken
1edy said, "the United States
has been given the opportunity |
70 demonstrate once again that
Ill men who fight for freedom
ire our brothers and shall be
until your country and others
are free"
Greeted by Mayor
The crowd cheered almost
constantly during the 20-min-
ute inspection Of the brigade
by the President. AS he walked
back to the stand in midfield,
shouts Of Guerra, Guerra
C"War, WarO-could be heard
ringing through the applause.
Mayor Robert King High of
Miami greeted the brigade in
and the Brigade Com
mander Jose Perez San Roman
spoke in Spanish before the
President gave his address.
Immediately after the cere-
mony, the President and Mrs.
Kennedy flew by helicopter
back to Palm Beach to resume
their holiday activities there.
Half an hour before the
Presidents arrival, more than
5000 persons-by far the most
Of them Cubans-nearly filled
the lower section Of the south
stand in the huge Orange Bowl
Stadium. This was the shady
side. Only policemen posted at
each exit could be seen in the
north stands facing the sun.
The bright sun was driving
the temperature up toward a
predicted high Of 80.
Brown-uniformed Miami po-
licemen. standing Just an arms
length apart. lined the grass
covered field from end TO end.
facing the crowded south stand
In a line about five feet out.
Their heads kept turning from
side TO side as they watched
keenly for any sings OF Castro
sympathizers who might try TO
sabotage the ceremony.
During last night, uniformed
officers accompanied by police
dogs patroled the stadium.
Miami Public Safety Director
d. ID. Pomerleau said the Secret
Service. charged with protec-
ton OF the President. was In
complete command OF the DO
lice operation.
We're Just working for them
during this operation" he said.
As the time neared for the
Presidents appearance, crowds
began filling some OF the
bleacher seats at the eastern
end Of the stadium.
Several tiers OF seats in the
east bleachers were titled by
Cubans IN American Army uni
form-the refugees taken into
the United States Army as an
American unit.
Cheers and applause doomed
out from the stands a. the
battle-stained flag Of invasion
Brigade 2506 appeared on the
field and the survivors who