On July 28, 2026, a personal message from Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, a key leader of Cuba’s revolutionary movement, was officially released to the residents of Pinar del Río, following the province’s hosting of the national central ceremony marking the 73rd anniversary of the 26th of July Movement.
The historic assault on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks, carried out in 1953, is widely recognized as the foundational event that launched Cuba’s revolutionary struggle, and the date is annually celebrated across the nation as National Rebellion Day. Each year, Cuba selects a host community to hold the main national commemorative event, honoring the ongoing commitment of that region to the values and goals of the revolution.
In his heartfelt message, Raúl Castro extended warm affection and formal recognition to the people of Pinar del Río, noting that the province earned the privilege of hosting the 2026 central act through the collective hard work, unwavering dedication to the revolutionary cause, and innovative, persistent labor of its residents. The message closed with a warm embrace to all people of the province, reinforcing the connection between revolutionary leadership and local communities across Cuba.
The message was accompanied by an official photo distributed via the WhatsApp Channel of the Presidency of the Republic of Cuba, and was first published by Cuban state media outlet Granma with full attribution to Raúl Castro Ruz.