Historians agree that this heroic deed marked the beginning of the end of the tyranny of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo
Today marks 63 years since Commanders Enrique Jiménez Moya and Delio Gómez Ochoa, along with 52 other members of the expedition, arrived in the country in a plane painted with the initials of the Dominican Military Aviation at the Constanza airport.
The expeditionaries arrived determined to overthrow the satrap Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina, dictator who subjugated the Dominican people.
Most historians agree on one point: that heroic deed marked the beginning of the end of tyranny.
Jiménez Moya, leader of the expedition, issued a proclamation calling on the people to support the movement.
“Dominican people: the hour of liberation has come. The democratic awakening of America, growing and irrepressible, reaches our country. After having swept away the tyrannies of Rojas Pinilla, Perón, Pérez Jiménez, Fulgencio Batista and others who are teetering on the threshold of defeat, the Dominican Liberation Army; fight now, with unbreakable determination, in our plains and mountains, ready to destroy forever the yoke of oppression and barbarism”, he stated.
Six days later, on June 20, the members of a second group, made up of 144 expeditionaries led by commanders José Horacio Rodríguez and José Antonio Campos Navarro, disembarked at Maimón and Estero Hondo, in the province of Puerto Plata. They arrived on the boats Carmen Elsa and La Tinima, which had sailed from Nipe Bay, Cuba.
However, the dictator’s intelligence service was already aware of the landing plans, so they were ambushed.
In the end, both operations, both June 14 and 20, failed militarily in their attempt to overthrow the tyrant.
Many died before being caught; however, those who were arrested were taken to the San Isidro Air Base, where they suffered cruel torture. Finally, when they were mere human remains, they were shot and dumped in mass graves.
Only the Cubans Gómez Ochoa and Pablito Mirabal, a child at that time, survived the feat; as well as the Dominicans Gonzalo Almonte Pacheco, Mayobanex Vargas, Francisco Medardo Germán and Poncio Pou Saleta.
Currently, only Gómez Ochoa survives.
You honor the heroes
The Permanent Commission of National Ephemeris informed that this Tuesday, June 14, it will commemorate with various acts the 63rd anniversary of the 1959 Constanza, Maimón and Estero Hondo Expedition, to honor the memory of the group of expeditionaries who landed through Constanza, Maimón and Estero Hondo , recognized as “The Immortal Race”.
The acts will begin at 9:00 in the morning, at the Monument to the Heroes of Constanza, Maimón and Estero Hondo, Center of the Heroes, with the hanging of the flags of the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, the United States, Spain , Venezuela and Cuba, and interpretation of the National Anthem by the National Army Music Band.
Later, the deposit of floral offerings will be made by the representatives of public and private institutions, to the beat of the bugle call in honor of the expedition members.
Juan Pablo Uribe, president of the Permanent Commission of National Anniversaries, said that this act serves to raise the level of patriotism, pointing out: “It helps us morally to combat the difficulties of the present generated by the two global crises that impact the world, that of the the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, which endanger recovery and economic and social stability. For this reason, we must promote and instill in Dominicans an interest in the principles and values that exalt our Dominican nature.”
Participants in tribute to the immortal race
In the patriotic act, Ysabel Vargas, Camila Rodríguez and José Horacio Rodríguez, representing the Heroes of Constanza Foundation, Maimón and Estero Hondo will offer the words of welcome, while Juan Pablo Uribe, president of the Permanent Commission of National Ephemeris will have at his I carry the words of apology of the immortal race.
On the other hand, at 5:00 in the afternoon a second act is contemplated, which will begin with the interpretation of the National Anthem, by the Judiciary Choir and the anthem of the Dominican Liberation Movement, as well as a religious invocation.
Ysabel Vargas, president of the Heroes of Constanza Foundation, Maimón and Estero Hondo, and the Minister of Culture, Milagros Germán, will speak, followed by the unveiling of a plaque in honor of the expedition members.
Within the framework of the commemoration, the musical Expeditionary June 14 will be performed, under the general direction of Aidita Selman, the musical direction of maestro Dante Cucurullo, the choral direction of Nadia Nicola and the choreography and artistic assembly of Elizabeth Crooke.
