THE CUBAN CHILDREN'S EXODUS

Over four decades ago, Cuban parents fearing indoctrination and that the Cuban government would take away their parental authority exercised one of the most fundamental human rights: the right to choose how their children would be educated.

From December 1960 to October 1962, more than fourteen thousand Cuban youths arrived alone in the United States. What is now known as Operation Pedro Pan was the largest recorded exodus of Unaccompanied minors in the Western Hemisphere. The exodus of the Cuban children was virtually unknown for over 30 years. Mons. Bryan O. Walsh who is considered the Father of our Exodus states that the name had only appeared in print in March of 62' and in a Reader's Digest article in 1988. It was through the effort and work of Operation Pedro Pan Group, Inc. that the name Operation Pedro Pan became known throughout the US and the world.

Approximately, half of the minors were reunited with relatives or friends at the airport. More than half were cared for by the Catholic Welfare Bureau, directed by a young 30 year old Irish priest, Bryan O. Walsh. The children from the Cuban Refugee Children's Program were placed in temporary shelters in Miami, and relocated in 30 States. Many children of the Unaccompanied Cuban Children's program, are unaware that they were part of history in the making. Today, we are trying to locate all the children that came alone and were part of this historical exodus. Please help us locate the grown children of Pedro Pan!

PEDRO PAN TODAY

Following our tradition to give back since making our Pledge of Thanksgiving in 1990, we have recognized those in dividuals who helped in the program and individuals of the Pedro Pan Alumni who have done meritorious work in the US community. The organization has Trustees and members throughout the United States and abroad.

REMEMBRANCE CARD

Learn about this important historical event, meet and reunite with those who shared the experience and be involved in helping the needy children who are without parents today. OPERATION PEDRO PAN GROUP, Inc. is a National Charitable Organization, tax exempt under Section 501 (c)(3) with  members  throughout the US and abroad.We would love to hear from you. Please get in touch with us at: members@pedropan.org

POPURRI PEDRO PAN

Las canciones de este Popurri Pedro Pan eran las que traimos con nosotros y entonabamos en las casas, en la escuela, claro eran en espanol, despues incorporamos los exitos en Ingles. Desde luego, en este hibrido popurri no faltan las implicaciones: el Telegrama nos anunciaba la salida de Cuba; Losing You nos decia: no puedo creer que te perdi; Breaking up is hard...advertia lo dificil que es una ruptura; Pequena flor recordaba que ya...tu no estas; Hit the road Jack disponia: Coge el camino Juan!. Ay, pero a pesar de los anos que han pasado, a pesar del rock y del twist, El Maranon aun nos sique gustando mucho mas!. Por eso Regresa a mi, y Volare predicen que un dia retornaremos, volando, a reconstruir a una Cuba libre.

We would like to invite you to listen to our song:

Concepto de Marisela Verena. Singers: Marisela Verena, Lissette Alvarez, Willy Chirino & Carlos Oliva.
Drawing by el balserito Daniel Bussot Prieto