RELEASED CUBAN EXILES PRESENT BRIGADE FLAG TO JFK
Miami, Florida (JFK+50) On December 29, 1962, President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy welcomed the released prisoners of the Bay of Pigs invasion here in Miami.
The brigade of anti-Castro Cuban exiles, trained and supported by the Central Intelligence Agency, attempted to overthrow Fidel Castro on April 17, 1961.
In a ceremony held at the Orange Bowl, President Kennedy was presented with the flag of Brigade 2506 by Erneido Oliva*.
The President said...
"I can assure you that this flag will be returned to this brigade in a free Havana. You are here following an historic road. You come to us from behind prison walls. But you leave behind more than 6 million countrymen who are also, in a very real sense, in a prison. On behalf of my government and my country, I welcome you to the United States."
*Erneido Oliva was born in Havana in 1932 & graduated from the Cuban Military Academy. EO was the Deputy Commander of Brigade 2506. LBJ terminated the Special Army Training of Cuban exiles 2 months after JFK's death. EO was promoted to Captain in the US Army in 1965.
JFK and Mrs. Kennedy in Miami
December 29, 1962
Photo by Cecil Stoughton
JFK Library Image
