For any companion this meet had had just a professional interest; but for this journalist it was the union of the family. Six hours of emotions would not be easy to transcribe to a page, and although my teachers of the academy demand objectivity, I must say to them that this day is among the happiest of my 22 years.

I asked the Hero of the Republic of Cuba, Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, for a few words for the readership of Adelante.

- How did you receive December 17th, 2014?

- It was one of the happiest moments of my life. The dream of the reunion became true with our people and our relatives. We spent 16 years dreaming about this moment, and when it became true it was hard to believe it. We could perceive, in addition to our happiness, the happiness of the people, and this added a touch to the magic of this day.

- Arriving here and another surprise was discovered …

- It was part of the same package, of the same dream. If it was the script for a movie or a novel, it would not have being so well, all the happiness together. Obviously after returning, we could have tried to fulfill the dream of being parents; but we were going to be against the clock. It was perfect, only a few days after the return we received Gema in this world, which is the biggest happiness that Adriana and I have had in our lives. Gema is a beautiful, calm girl, we do not have any complaint and came to be the complement for this happy ending.

- How could you have handled so much love of the people?

- It has been so pretty that it is a little difficult to handle, sometimes we come late to the activities because the persons stop you in the street, they want photos or ask you for an autograph. Things have changed, because in my times so many pictures were not taken, they were not asking for so many autographs, only to recognized artist. I surprise the people when they ask us to sign a bit of paper, a napkin, and that cheers us up, because it gives us the opportunity of corresponding a bit to the whole love that we receive for so many years.

“We feel proud of our people, of all those that took part of their time to do some action for the Five”.

- After the arrival to Cuba, you have had two moments that stand out: the imposition of the Hero's condition of the Republic of Cuba and the meet with Fidel. What can you tell us about them?

- We had dreamed very much with these two moments, the day of the Medal was indescribable. Ramón and I had a prank that later was extensive to the whole group, in the worst moment of the imprisonment came to us the news about our declaration as Heroes of the Republic of Cuba and we were touching ourselves the chest to indicate it. Through the grills of the prison we were saying: "resist, that we are heroes of the people of Cuba and some day we will have these stars in our chests”. Then, when it came it was the complete dream and the culmination of a stage.

“As for the meet with the Commander, there were rumors in the street; but it was the desire of our people to see this meet, because the return of the Five was not finished until we saw Fidel. I see it like a family meeting, as if we were five brothers with the father in the room of his house. I was a pleasure for myself to tell him some anecdotes of the prison, we speak about the world reality, the food shortage and the potentialities of some cultivation like the moringa and the mulberry. It was an informal, but very emotive meet”.

- We saw you almost like the director of Industriales for the Television.

- It has been the only game that I could have see, if it was for me I would move to the stadium to see all the games. That day my idea was to sit down with the public, but Vargas sat next to him and he was commenting to me on all the strategies of the game, what he was going to do, I felt a little like the director of the team. There the young Camagüeyan Dairon Blancois playing, who is very good, I greeted him and took a photo with him. I hope the next year could reinforce us again. Well, is better if Camagüey could classify too.

- Gera, you have been to Camagüey. What did you think about my city?

- I liked Camagüey very much, I have not been so much time as I would want and only know its provincial capital, but I liked it. We feel the heat and the hospitality of the Camagüeyan people. I traveled enough its streets to beginning of the 90s and I have the debt of returning. We have friends and even families there. Adriana has been there many times, she has spoken to me very well about the Camagüeyans. Soon Adriana, Gema and I will visit it. To the Camagüeyans a greeting on behalf of the Five, and the gratitude for the support during these years. A big hug for all.

- How do you see the Cuba of the future?

- I see a Cuba better than that of today, more revolutionary, more unite. In this chess game there are new moves to be thought and to be rethought, strategies; but I am sure that the Cuban revolutionaries we will be capable of continuing our project, improving it every day. The generations of today have the commitment of maintain in high place the flags of Fidel and Raúl, the area is not flat and it will have obstacles, but if we have come this far, I have the certainty that we will go forward.

- March 14th was the Day of the Cuban Press. How did you see the journalists in the battle for your freedom?

- The press played a determinant roll, over there it was hard for us to break the media blockade, and on this side the case of the Five was always present in our media. Although at first we lacked fresh initiatives to take our message to the public, but later that changed and we advance very much.

Translated by BA in English Language, Manuel Barrera Téllez

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