If you leave the city in the heading to the Eastern region, near the checkpoint there is an obelisk that tells the little-known story of a young man from Camagüey.
This chronicler arrived there, looking for something hidden behind the faded walls and the bronze plaque, which very briefly mentions the combat and the place where Mario Águila Bernal lost his life.
The obelisk
To my surprise, despite being away from houses and institutions, I found the space very clean and protected, the neighbors at the back take care the obelisk, mow and sweep. They feel a special bond with that story, which their grandmother witnessed and remembered forever.
Yamilka Infante Fontes was born in that place and from a very young age she approached those impressive events that her grandmother recounted over and over again. She thus learned to share them with any visitor in an attempt to safeguard those memories.
Even when her 6-month-old little girl demands a lot of attention, she tries to keep it clean and ready to welcome the pioneers from the nearby school, the young people who receive the UJC card and the soldiers who are promoted, a tradition that interrupted COVID-19 and that She would very much like to resume, to honor that brave man of only 24 years, who wrote with his blood an indelible page of our local history.
Who was Mario Aguila Bernal?
A young State Security combatant, who offered his life to defend his fellow citizens. As a member of the nascent organization, on August 7th, 1962, he tried to intercept a group of counterrevolutionary men, who were escaping via the east to take up arms.
The operation tracked the bandits. They waited for his departure from the city to avoid the danger of a shooting in the population. The confrontation took place at the Santayana curve.
The fugitives were heavily armed with M-3 submachine guns, between them and the patrolmen there was an intense shootout in which a bandit was killed and Mario was seriously injured in the head. On August 27th, 1962, after great efforts had been made to save his life, he died.
The young man was part of the centenarian generation, his duty to the Revolution and his defense was a priority as he courageously faced the armed enemy. His story is an example of convictions, which moves and inspires the current members of National Security, to make their day to day an act of dedication to the sovereignty and peace of the nation.
Back to the obelisk
After remembering the armed action, the rain threatens a sky that suddenly darkened above us. I have to say goodbye and at that moment almost leaving, she expresses a wish to me…
I would like Mario’s biography to be more publicized, that visits to the monument return and it could be beautiful a beautiful place again; as it was when she was a child.
Given her sincere and emotional words for the preservation of history, it moves me to see that young woman with so many feelings for a patriot she never knew, so I ask her the reason for her dedication and with a sweet smile, her daughter in one arm and the another on the flag assures: for love.
Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García
