Santiago de Cuba and the Lonely Star Flag

The oldest village of Cuba, our present Santiago de Cuba City, has a beautiful history related to our national flag. That standard was first seen in October 1868 at the highest peak of Bayamo’s Port -in Sierra de Boniato, near the place that is currently known as El Castillito. It was the signal for the people of Santiago to know that there were rebels in that area.

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Over 400 men were deployed in that place, led by Santiesteban, Máximo Gómez and José Pérez. Its sighting caused a huge stir in the city. The flag fluttered in that site for several days and there was nothing the Spanish authorities could do to take it away from that glorious mountain, until the City Hall issued a document to condemn such an impressive display of patriotism, labeling it “antinational rebel flag”.

It was a fearless action carried out by the Cuban rebels. Subsequently, in November 1860, the authorities announced their condemnation of our beloved Cuban flag, but it was in vain: numberless patriots died to defend it.

Our national flag was also hoisted at La Socapa fort in the bay, when the Spanish ensign was lowered at the City Hall and the North American one took its place. It showed the opposition to the change of a metropolis for another one, so it was immediately struck.

The San Carlos Club, which was moved from one premise to the next one, until it was established at the former residence of Mr. Bartolo Portuondo, marquis of Delicias de Tempú, was the first place in the city to raise the Cuban flag in 1899.

The Flag Fiesta is a historical and cultural activity that takes place, every December 31, at Santiago de Cuba’s Céspedes Park until the first minutes of the New Year, when a huge ensign is hoisted while the National Anthem is played. It was an initiative promoted by Chichí de Moya and institutionalized by Mr. Emilio Bacardí Moreau, in spite of the opposition of the US governor of the city at the time.

In 1945, there was a project to build a Civic Center for Santiago de Cuba and it included the creation of a monument to the Cuban flag, right where we presently see a huge pavilion at the Central Highway and Paseo de Martí, in this gorgeous city.