Ashes of US Rev. Lucius Walker, who led relief caravans to Cuba, to be placed in Havana park

[Judi Lynn]

Ashes of US Rev. Lucius Walker, who led relief caravans to Cuba, to be placed in Havana park
By Associated Press, Updated: Friday, June 17, 8:42 PM

HAVANA — A Cuban official says the ashes of a U.S. pastor who led annual pilgrimages of aid volunteers in defiance of Washington’s decades-old trade embargo will be taken to the island in accordance with his wishes.

Kenia Serrano is president of the Cuban Friendship Institute. Serrano says the Rev. Lucius Walker’s ashes will be placed in their final resting spot in a Havana park July 30.

Walker headed the nonprofit Pastors for Peace. He led 21 relief trips to Cuba since 1992, bringing everything from walkers and wheelchairs to computer monitors and clothing.

He died of a heart attack in New York last September at the age of 80.

More:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/americas/ashes-of-us-rev-lucius-walker-who-led-relief-caravans-to-cuba-to-be-placed-in-havana-park/2011/06/17/AG5CtaZH_story.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. A statement concerning Lucius Walker published by Cuban newspaper, Granma.

http://www.lawg.org.nyud.net:8090/storage/images/Cuba%20Pics/lucius_walker.jpg
This is google-translated, for the rest please post the link at google translation:

We do not want to think about a world without Lucius Walker
AIDA CALVIAC MORA

The irony of the blow shook us all: when the threat of nuclear war hanging over our heads, one of the indispensable man of peace has left us after 80 years of real example.He died Lucius Walker, the Rev. American who almost two decades ago began an irreversible struggle against the stubborn and cruel policy of the government of his country against Cuba.

Armed with faith and endurance, clinging to the great causes and social justice, Lucius reached this country despite the arrests and beatings of those who have always feared the disclosure of Antillean reality.

Earlier, he left his mark of solidarity in the liberation movements in Africa during missions in support of the patriots of Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, Angola ...Then in Central America, particularly in El Salvador and Nicaragua.The last destination, as told on multiple occasions, inspire the emergence of the Interreligious Foundation Pastors for Peace.

"On August 2, 1988, my daughter Gail and I were among 200 other civilians in Escondido river trip in Nicaragua which was harshly attacked by the contras. Two Nicaraguans were killed and 49 passengers were injured. That night in the hospital, while being treated for a gunshot wound, I prayed to God for spiritual guidance to find an appropriate response to such an act of terrorism. The inspiration that God gave me was to create Pastors for Peace caravan to bring material aid to victims of American aggression. "

More:
http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/2010/09/08/interna/artic06.html

~~~~~
Cuba Caravan Rolls Past Mex. Border
July 21, 2009

HAVANA TIMES, July 21 – The Pastors for Peace Friendship Caravan crossed the border from McAllen, Texas to Reynoso, Mexico on Tuesday with over 100 tons of humanitarian aid headed for Cuba.

This year’s caravan, the 20th, -brought together 130 volunteers from the US, Canada and Europe. Pastors for Peace makes an annual challenge to the half-century US economic blockade on Cuba as well as the travel ban that forbids ordinary US citizens from visiting the Caribbean island.

“People have demonstrated their desire to end this inhumane policy towards Cuba by their generous donations and by their informed questions. People want the freedom to travel to Cuba without limitations by the U.S. government,” said Rev. Tom Smith the IFCO/Pastors for Peace board chair.

“We have met people throughout the US who are willing to do more to make this change happen,” Smith continued. Thousands of people signed up for our emergency response network-standing ready to make calls to their congressional representatives and the Obama administration demanding that our aid to go through.” said Smith.

More:
http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=12063

~~~~~
19th US-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan

Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Bringing the Computers into Mexico Bound for Cuba!

http://4.bp.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/_hh7TOI4fk0s/SH0M55s5MRI/AAAAAAAABJg/nYF3nOo6M7s/s400/crossing+bridge+c.jpg http://2.bp.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/_hh7TOI4fk0s/SH0M6AG2BnI/AAAAAAAABJw/czfCUN1zpZc/s400/crossing+bridge+G.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/_hh7TOI4fk0s/SH0M6dRYDPI/AAAAAAAABJ4/Jrf1rKygrwQ/s400/crossing+bridge+6.jpg http://3.bp.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/_hh7TOI4fk0s/SH0M64UkbAI/AAAAAAAABKA/wP2NHZJOE3s/s400/crossing+bridge+4.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/_hh7TOI4fk0s/SH0LZA1Fu1I/AAAAAAAABJI/7iTT0WOQFog/s400/approaching+bridge1.jpg http://3.bp.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/_hh7TOI4fk0s/SH0LZov5bBI/AAAAAAAABJY/gbZPZoay3rY/s400/approaching+bridge3.jpg
More:
http://19thcubacaravan.blogspot.com/

[flamingdem]

2. That's really great, the every day Cubans know about Pastors for Peace

due to the painted school buses they donated with their name.

A wonderful symbol, there are so few!