Yesterday Santiago fired Mr. Marcelo Felipe Bermúdez Estrellaanti-Trujillista fighter and former governor of this province, with military honors by the Second Brigade of the Army of the Dominican Republic and a posthumous tribute made by his former fellow combatants of the June 14 Movement (1J4), Fidelio Despradel, Monchy Valerio, Rafael Chaljub Mejía and Rafael Reyes (Pitufia).
The coffin of someone who was also a distinguished businessman, prominent sculptor and diplomat, was covered by the national flag during the wake, while politicians, businessmen and members of civil society paraded through the place and valued his fight against the tyranny of Trujillo, his honesty and simplicity before others.
Businessman Mícalo Bermúdez said that his father, who died at the age of 91, always did what he believed was right. He remembered that his father affirmed that a public man must be coherent. He noted that he cared about his family, about democracy and the freedom of the people and that he never accumulated wealth. “He was extremely brave and fearful of the safety of his family and his friends,” said Bermúdez, who thanked his mother, Doña Margarita, for caring for him and being by his side for 60 years.
Marcela Bermúdez highlighted her grandfather’s gifts and urged us to emulate the good things left by him, such as wisdom, kindness, respect, love and solidarity, to make this world a better place.
“Men like Marcelo are not buried, they are sown to continue reaping from their legacy,” said Father César Hilario, concelebrant of the present body mass officiated by priest Carlos Santana, prior to the burial in the Fuente de Luz cemetery.
You can read: Marcelo Bermúdez, businessman and anti-Trujillo fighter from Santiago, dies
The Vice President of the Republic, Raquel Peña, stated that Marcelo Bermúdez fought for the freedom of the country against Trujillo and that he was a very valuable man who left a great legacy of values.
Former presidents Danilo Medina and Leonel Fernández, and former vice president Margarita Cedeño, separately expressed their condolences to the Bermúdez García family and stressed that Marcelo Bermúdez was a great defender of public freedoms, a fighter for democracy and the creator of a great family.
Fernández said that Marcelo was an extraordinary man, a friend of many years, a moral and ethical reference, a role model who was not dedicated to the individual but to the collective.
The skills of the deceased were also highlighted by the provincial governor Rosa Santos, the PLD leaders José Ramón Fadul, Francisco Javier García, Alejandrina Germán and Víctor Fadul, and also, Professor José Izquierdo, of the Fuerza del Pueblo Party.
Don Marcelo was married to Mrs. Margarita García de Bermúdez with whom he had his children Mícalo, Soto, Marcelo and Camilo Bermúdez García.
Marcelo fought against the tyranny of Trujillo and was imprisoned in the La 40 prison and in La Victoria where, like many young people of the June 14 Revolutionary Movement, he was subjected to cruel torture. “Five years ago Marcelo asked God to allow him to live two more years of life,” as Rafael Reyes (Pitufia), one of his former teammates, told Hoy reporters.
“Marcelo Bermúdez had an exemplary and special behavior in the June 14 movement, focused on a series of tasks that had to be carried out and that he was always in the front row,” stated his former colleague Fidelio Despradel.
Miguel Ventura, friend of Don Marcelo, expressed that society has lost a great man and better human being.
In 1963, he participated with Manolo Tavárez Justo and a group of young people from June 14 in the guerrilla uprising. of the Manaclas that sought the restoration of the constitutional order after the coup d’état against Juan Bosch. He survived this feat where Manolo Tavárez Justo and most of his companions were shot. Later, he ventured into the business area starting in the 1970s. For years he maintained a close friendship with the late President of the Republic, Professor Juan Bosch.
