On May 25, 1918, Mrs. Brígida Zaldívar Cisneros, widow of Major General Vicente García González, died in Havana. The efforts of the children of this land brought her back home in 1991 when 73 years had already passed since the disastrous event. Until then, her remains remained there, in the cemetery of Colón, close to the breath of those who lulled her old age.
That is because after an obstinate inquiry (as good works on these matters usually are), which included dusting off old documents and reviewing various testimonies, the specialists of the then-young Vicente Garcia Memorial Museum, led by the passionate dedication of its director, Margarita García Laguna, set out to change the course of events.
A meticulous search led them to the premises of the Havana cemetery. There, amid the papers of an archive that they still remember as "fabulous" and thanks to the dedication of an expert that attended to them with sleeplessness, even though she was hearing for the first time the name of that mambí mother of whom the visitors from Las Tunas spoke to her with unlimited respect, they achieved the miracle.
Thus they were able to prove the area of that imposing place where Brigida was buried. Margarita's eyes still shine when she comments on her colossal victory. "We took all that information and returned to the memorial, because we had an event organized that would address precisely the regional history and, within it, its personalities.
"Carmen Almodovar, Jorge Ibarra, Mary Ruiz de Zarate and the researcher of the Columbus cemetery herself, among other valuable colleagues, participated. We were able to show the results of our investigation, we attested to the exact place where her remains were, and we presented the support of her grandson Enrique, who was Maria's son and lived in the municipality of Arroyo Naranjo."
From the meeting, everyone seemed to come out convinced that yes, Brigida's ashes should return to the Balcón de Oriente, but the "matter" was not an easy task because doing so was forbidden then, and it took a long way to revert that disposition. Only those who know Margarita García know that for her and her broad smile, no obstacle is too hard.
"I left again for Havana, accompanied by Rafael Aparicio Cuello, a historian and tireless researcher, the second specialist the memorial counted on.
"We went to the cemetery administrator and had to explain to him who Brigida was, what we wanted, and why. We made him fall in love with the idea and taking advantage of the fact that he did not know all the procedures that were necessary in this case (even some directly with the Office of Eusebio Leal) we managed to get him to accept the transfer. He only made it a condition that a family member be brought to the exhumation.
"Of course, we told him there was no problem with that. I signed the precise papers and then I talked to Enrique, who was very happy. Everyone agreed.
 Margarita García Laguna |
It was time to return to Las Tunas, explain the progress to the political authorities of the territory and the directors of the cultural sector, and continue opening roads.
"Something very sad and extremely important happened in the middle of these efforts. It was the tribute paid to the internationalist fighters who died in Africa fighting against apartheid. The activities were held at the memorial, with all the military honors, as they deserved. In addition, seeing that, we considered that the same should be the return of Brigida so that the people could live and share part of their future.
"We had the unconditional support of Alfredo Jordán Morales, then first secretary of the Provincial Committee of the Party, a brilliant man in his performance and sensitivity. Altogether, we achieved it".
The remains arrived at Tunas' institution on May 24, 1991, accompanied by the outstanding researcher Mery Ruiz de Zárate, a close friend of Las Tunas, who advised every detail of the process.
Therefore, Brigida spent another night in the large house of the former Calle Real. There, in the place where she arrived recently married when she was only 16 years old; the cradle of her eight children, the tender haven of her loving husband, whose ashes she returned to these lands on January 25, 1907, leading the group that brought them, together with those of her son Braulio, from Rio Chico, in Venezuela.
"We invited the family of Vicente and Brígida that we were able to locate. She was given the military honors she deserved as a mambisa, including a fusillade; we went on a pilgrimage to the cemetery accompanied by the "Himno Invasor". It was very moving. The people came massively to say goodbye to her at the Memorial. I know that many people still remember it.
And here she rests already, among the ardor of her loved ones, the indomitable woman whose death made this May 25, 105 years. The same one who dedicated her life, in the war, to fight for her lineage; and, later, to demand respect for the memory of her husband. It is said that she treasured the documents that attested to every hoax woven around her controversial and epic figure. This is how history remembers her, with fervor.
