By: Carlos de Jesús Hernández Fernández

The monument is any work with sufficient value for humans that erected it. It must be “public and patent”. Although initially the term was applied to statues, inscriptions or tombs erected in memory of a person or a relevant event (commemorative monument), its use spread and has come to include any construction that has “artistic, archaeological, historical” value or similar -especially the architectural ones that, located in an urban center or isolated in rural areas, fulfill the function of a landmark due to their visibility and become symbols of that place.

Camagüey, called like this since 1903, knew how to incorporate into its development, in addition to the indisputable contributions of its children in the arts, sciences, politics and history, the social and technological advances that have allowed it to remain a living city that works for the safeguarding of its values and the integration to modernity without giving up traditions, customs and identity, constituting for all the peculiarities pointed out above, a Historic Center worthy of preserving for future generations as World Heritage.

As a cultural institution at the service of the protection and conservation of the historical – cultural legacy of our territory, the Office of the Historian of Camagüey city has the mission of consolidating the cultural heritage to exalt the features of the Camagüeyan identity, the preservation of the material memory as well as strengthen the sense of belonging in the inhabitants of our city. Among the projects that are carried out is attention to Historical Memory, which is carried out in conjunction with the Provincial Center for Cultural Heritage.

Projects

One of the projects presented by the OHCC is the attention to “Historical Memory”, with the aim of fostering interest in students, mainly primary and secondary, for local history and creating a link between the OHCC institutions with the student centers.

Three projects are derived from it (Tarjas and monuments; Plan for celebrations and commemorations; Open classrooms). Within the “Historical Memory” project is the cleaning and conservation of tarjas, monuments and historical sites that treasure the heritage of our province, materializing the actions of the direction of the Francisco Sánchez Betancourt Trades School belonging to the OHCC, by the students of the mural painting restoration specialty, with conservation operations aimed mainly at surface cleaning and protection treatments.

Achieving in turn in the young people who undertake the work, ethical, political and ideological values. These conservations are extremely important, since it will allow preserving and protecting the historical memory of the city, carrying out the work with satisfactory results, and committing the people of Camagüey to maintain our customs, beliefs, idiosyncrasies, our built heritage, reaffirming what for years It has been an existential premise for the Cuban State, the defense of our culture’s identity and the conservation of cultural heritage. Legacy that our grandparents left us and that we have the obligation to maintain for future generations.

Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García