The Communist Party of Cuba, the State and the people will give the defense services the utmost attention as long as imperialism exists, a sentiment that became a unanimous outcry in the celebration of the 62nd anniversary of the creation of the Central Army and among the inhabitants of the five provinces that make up the most stable Army in the Vanguard, as the Army General Raúl Castro defined.

The political act and military ceremony, held in the military region of Ciego de Ávila, was presided over by the Hero of the Republic of Cuba and Vice Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), Army Corps General Joaquín Quintas Solá, accompanied by leaders of the government, main heads of MINFAR and the presidents of the Defense Councils of the five provinces of the Central territory.

The celebration began with the song Riding with Fidel, interpreted by its author Raúl Torres, before the congratulations transmitted by Álvaro López Miera, Minister of the FAR, read by Colonel Ernesto Borges Rodríguez, Chief of the Political Section of the Central Army.

Those present listened to Fidel's accurate and current ideas that “without defense there can be no Homeland..., there can be no independence..., there can be no freedom..., there can be no Revolution; defense is something that can never be entrusted to others; it is something that a people can only entrust to itself.”

The headquarters and political section of the Central Army recognized the Defense Councils of the five territories that make up that command for the results in the preparation of the people for defense, and, at the same time, conveyed a special congratulations to Ciego de Ávila and Matanzas , due to the high participation of the people in the voting on March 26.

For his extensive and exemplary career, Reserve Brigadier General Henry Lówery del Pozo received the medal for Exemplary Service, and Major Yosvany Jardines González, the Abel Santamaría Distinction, for his outstanding results as a young communist.

The occasion was propitious for the delivery of UJC and PCC militant cards to combatants, promotion in military ranks and other decorations and recognitions to young people, chiefs, officers, retired from military command and to State agencies and entities.

Fighters from the Rebel Army, founders of the Central Army, fighters from Playa Girón, from the battle against bandits, relatives of those killed in the line of duty and retirees from the central command were present.

As a climax to the celebration, Arnaldo Rodríguez, son of Ciego de Ávila and faithful defender of culture as the shield and sword of the nation, performed Latir avileño, a musical number dedicated to the province.

The Central Army, born in the midst of growing enemy hostility, in the heat of the fight against bandits and a few days after the mercenary invasion of Playa Girón, emerged —by order of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro— on April 4, 1961, under the leadership of Commander Juan Almeida Bosque.