FidelCastrosMemorialSpeechforErnestoCheGuevara

18October1967

IfirstmetCheonedayinJulyorAugust1955.Andinonenightasherecallsinhisaccounthe
becameoneofthefutureGranmaexpeditionaries,althoughatthattimetheexpeditionpossessedneither
ship,norarms,nortroops.Thatwashow,togetherwithRal,Chebecameoneofthefirsttwoonthe
Granmalist.
Twelveyearshavepassedsincethentheyhavebeen12yearsfilledwithstruggleandhistorical
significance.Duringthistimedeathhascutdownmanybraveandinvaluablelives.Butatthesametime,
throughoutthoseyearsofourrevolution,extraordinarypersonshavearisen,forgedfromamongthepeople
oftherevolution,andbetweenthem,bondsofaffectionandfriendshiphaveemergedthatsurpassall
possibledescription.
Tonightwearemeetingtotrytoexpress,insomedegree,ourfeelingstowardonewhowasamong
theclosest,amongthemostadmired,amongthemostbeloved,and,withoutadoubt,themostextraordinary
ofourrevolutionarycomrades.Weareheretoexpressourfeelingsforhimandfortheheroeswhohave
foughtwithhimandfallenwithhim,hisinternationalistarmythathasbeenwritingagloriousandindelible
pageofhistory.
Chewasoneofthosepeoplewhowaslikedimmediately,forhissimplicity,hischaracter,his
naturalness,hiscomradelyattitude,hispersonality,hisoriginality,evenwhenonehadnotyetlearnedofhis
othercharacteristicsanduniquevirtues.
Inthosefirstdayshewasourtroopdoctor,andsothebondsoffriendshipandwarmfeelingsforhim
wereeverincreasing.Hewasfilledwithaprofoundspiritofhatredandcontemptforimperialism,notonly
becausehispoliticaleducationwasalreadyconsiderablydeveloped,butalsobecause,shortlybefore,he
hadhadtheopportunityofwitnessingthecriminalimperialistinterventioninGuatemalathroughthe
mercenarieswhoabortedtherevolutioninthatcountry.
ApersonlikeChedidnotrequireelaboratearguments.ItwassufficientforhimtoknowCubawasin
asimilarsituationandthattherewerepeopledeterminedtostruggleagainstthatsituation,armsinhand.It
wassufficientforhimtoknowthatthosepeoplewereinspiredbygenuinelyrevolutionaryandpatriotic
ideals.Thatwasmorethanenough.
Oneday,attheendofNovember1956,hesetoutontheexpeditiontowardCubawithus.Irecall
thatthetripwasveryhardforhim,since,becauseofthecircumstancesunderwhichitwasnecessaryto
organizethedeparture,hecouldnotevenprovidehimselfwiththemedicineheneeded.Throughoutthetrip,
hesufferedfromasevereattackofasthma,withnothingtoalleviateit,butalsowithoutevercomplaining.
Wearrived,setoutonourfirstmarch,sufferedourfirstsetback,andattheendofsomeweeks,asyouall
know,agroupofthoseGranmaexpeditionarieswhohadsurvivedwasabletoreunite.Checontinuedtobe
thedoctorofourgroup.
Wecamethroughthefirstbattlevictorious,andChewasalreadyasoldierofourtroopatthesame
timehewasstillourdoctor.WecamethroughthesecondvictoriousbattleandChewasnotonlyasoldier,
butthemostoutstandingsoldierinthatbattle,carryingoutforthefirsttimeoneofthosesingularfeatsthat
characterizedhiminallmilitaryaction.Ourforcescontinuedtodevelopandwesoonfacedanotherbattleof
extraordinaryimportance.
Thesituationwasdifficult.Theinformationwehadwaserroneousinmanyrespects.Weweregoing
toattackinfulldaylightatdawnastronglydefended,wellarmedpositionattheedgeofthesea.
Enemytroopswereatourrear,notveryfar,andinthatconfusedsituationitwasnecessarytoaskpeopleto
makeasupremeeffort.
ComradeJuanAlmeidahadtakenononeofthemostdifficultmissions,butoneoftheflanks
remainedcompletelywithoutforcesoneoftheflankswasleftwithoutanattackingforce,placingthe

operationindanger.Atthatmoment,Che,whowasstillfunctioningasourdoctor,askedforthreeorfour
men,amongthemonewithamachinegun,andinamatterofsecondssetoffrapidlytoassumethemission
ofattackfromthatdirection.
Onthatoccasionhewasnotonlyanoutstandingcombatantbutalsoanoutstandingdoctor,
attendingthewoundedcomradesand,atthesametime,attendingthewoundedenemysoldiers.
Afteralltheweaponshadbeencapturedanditbecamenecessarytoabandonthatposition,undertakinga
longreturnmarchundertheharassmentofvariousenemyforces,someonehadtostaybehindwiththe
wounded,anditwasChewhodidso.Aidedbyasmallgroupofoursoldiers,hetookcareofthem,saved
theirlives,andlaterrejoinedthecolumnwiththem.
Fromthattimeonward,hestoodoutasacapableandvaliantleader,oneofthosewho,whena
difficultmissionispending,donotwaittobeaskedtocarryitout.
ThusitwasatthebattleofElUvero.Butheactedinasimilarwayonapreviouslyunmentioned
occasionduringthefirstdayswhenfollowingabetrayal,ourlittletroopwasattackedbysurprisebya
numberofplanesandwewereforcedtoretreatunderthebombardment.Wehadalreadywalkedadistance
whenwerememberedsomeriflesofsomepeasantsoldierswhohadbeenwithusinthefirstactionsand
hadthenaskedpermissiontovisittheirfamilies,atatimewhentherewasstillnotmuchdisciplineinour
embryonicarmy.Atthatmoment,wethoughttheriflesmighthavetobegivenupforlost.ButIrecallittook
nomorethansimplyraisingtheproblemforChe,despitethebombing,tovolunteer,andhavingdoneso,
quicklygotorecoverthoserifles.
Thiswasoneofhisprincipalcharacteristics:hiswillingnesstoinstantlyvolunteerforthemost
dangerousmission.Andnaturallythisarousedadmirationandtwicetheusualadmiration,forafellow
combatantfightingalongsideuswhohadnotbeenbornhere,apersonofprofoundideas,apersoninwhose
mindstirredthedreamofstruggleinotherpartsofthecontinentandwhononethelesswassoaltruistic,so
selfless,sowillingtoalwaysdothemostdifficultthings,toconstantlyriskhislife.
Thatwashowhewontherankofcommanderandleaderofthesecondcolumn,organizedinthe
SierraMaestra.Thushisstandingbegantoincrease.Hebegantodevelopasamagnificentcombatantwho
wastoreachthehighestranksinthecourseofthewar.
Chewasanincomparablesoldier.Chewasanincomparableleader.Chewas,fromamilitarypoint
ofview,anextraordinarilycapableperson,extraordinarilycourageous,extraordinarilyaggressive.If,asa
guerrilla,hehadhisAchillesheel,itwasthisexcessivelyaggressivequality,hisabsolutecontemptfor
danger.
Theenemybelievesitcandrawcertainconclusionsfromhisdeath.Chewasamasterofwarfare!
Hewasanartistofguerrillastruggle!Andheshowedthataninfinitenumberoftimes.Butheshowedit
especiallyintwoextraordinarydeeds.Oneofthesewastheinvasion,inwhichheledacolumn,acolumn
pursuedbythousandsofenemysoldiersoverflatandabsolutelyunknownterrain,carryingouttogether
withCamilo[Cienfuegos]anextraordinarymilitaryaccomplishment.Healsoshoweditinhislightning
campaigninLasVillasProvince,especiallyintheaudaciousattackonthecityofSantaClara,entering
withacolumnofbarely300menacitydefendedbytanks,artillery,andseveralthousandinfantry
soldiers.Thosetwoheroicdeedsstampedhimasanextraordinarilycapableleader,asamaster,asanartist
ofrevolutionarywar.
However,nowafterhisheroicandgloriousdeath,somepeopleattempttodenythetruthorvalueof
hisconcepts,hisguerrillatheories.Theartistmaydieespeciallywhenheisanartistinafieldas
dangerousasrevolutionarystrugglebutwhatwillsurelyneverdieisthearttowhichhededicatedhislife,
thearttowhichhededicatedhisintelligence.
Whatissostrangeaboutthefactthatthisartistdiedincombat?Whatisstrangeristhathedidnot
dieincombatononeoftheinnumerableoccasionswhenheriskedhislifeduringourrevolutionarystruggle.
Manytimesitwasnecessarytotakestepstokeephimfromlosinghislifeinactionsofminorsignificance.

Andsoitwasincombatinoneofthemanybattleshefoughtthathelosthislife.Wedonothave
sufficientevidencetoenableustodeducewhatcircumstancesprecededthatcombat,orhowfarhemay
haveactedinanexcessivelyaggressiveway.But,werepeat,ifasaguerrillahehadanAchillesheel,itwas
hisexcessiveaggressiveness,hisabsolutecontemptfordanger.
Andthisiswherewecanhardlyagreewithhim,sinceweconsiderthathislife,hisexperience,his
capacityasaseasonedleader,hisauthority,andeverythinghislifesignified,weremorevaluable,
incomparablymorevaluablethanhehimself,perhaps,believed.
Hisconductmayhavebeenprofoundlyinfluencedbytheideathatpeoplehavearelativevalueinhistory,
theideathatcausesarenotdefeatedwhenpeoplefall,thatthepowerfulmarchofhistorycannotandwillnot
behaltedwhenleadersfall.
Thatistrue,thereisnodoubtaboutit.Itshowshisfaithinpeople,hisfaithinideas,hisfaithin
examples.HoweverasIsaidafewdaysagowithallourheartwewouldhavelikedtoseehimasa
forgerofvictories,toseevictoriesforgedunderhiscommand,underhisleadership,sincepeopleofhis
experience,ofhiscaliber,ofhisreallyuniquecapacity,arenotcommon.
Wefullyappreciatethevalueofhisexample.Weareabsolutelyconvincedthatmanypeoplewill
strivetoliveuptohisexample,thatpeoplelikehimwillemerge.
ItisnoteasytofindapersonwithallthevirtuesthatwerecombinedinChe.Itisnoteasyforaperson,
spontaneously,todevelopacharacterlikehis.Iwouldsaythatheisoneofthosepeoplewhoaredifficultto
matchandvirtuallyimpossibletosurpass.ButIwouldalsosaythattheexampleofpeoplelikehim
contributestotheappearanceofpeopleofthesamecaliber.
InChe,weadmirenotonlythefighter,thepersoncapableofperforminggreatfeats.Whathedid,
whathewasdoing,theveryfactofhisrisingwithahandfulofmenagainstthearmyoftheoligarchy,trained
byYankeeadviserssentinbyYankeeimperialism,backedbytheoligarchiesofallneighboringcountries
thatinitselfconstitutesanextraordinaryfeat.
Ifwesearchthepagesofhistory,itislikelythatwewillfindnoothercaseinwhichaleaderwith
suchalimitednumberofmenhassetaboutataskofsuchimportanceacaseinwhichaleaderwithsucha
limitednumberofmenhassetouttofightagainstsuchlargeforces.Suchproofofconfidenceinhimself,
suchproofofconfidenceinthepeoples,suchproofoffaithinmanscapacitytofight,canbelookedforin
thepagesofhistorybutthelikesofitwillneverbefound.
Andhefell.
Theenemybelievesithasdefeatedhisideas,hisguerrillaconcepts,hispointofviewon
revolutionaryarmedstruggle.Whattheyaccomplished,byastrokeofluck,wastoeliminatehimphysically.
Whattheyaccomplishedwastogainanaccidentaladvantagethatanenemymaygaininwar.Wedonot
knowtowhatdegreethatstrokeofluck,thatstrokeoffortune,washelpedalong,inabattlelikemany
others,bythatcharacteristicofwhichwespokebefore:hisexcessiveaggressiveness,hisabsolutedisdain
fordanger.
Thisalsohappenedinourwarofindependence.InabattleatDosRiostheykilled[JosMartthe
apostleofourindependenceinabattleatPuntaBrava,theykilledAntonioMaceo,aveteranofhundredsof
battles[intheCubanwarofindependence].Countlessleaders,countlesspatriotsofourwarof
independencewerekilledinsimilarbattles.Nevertheless,thatdidnotspelldefeatfortheCubancause.
ThedeathofCheaswesaidafewdaysagoisahardblow,atremendousblowfortherevolutionary
movementbecauseitdeprivesit,withoutadoubt,ofitsmostexperiencedandableleader.
Butthosewhoboastofvictoryaremistaken.Theyaremistakenwhentheythinkthathisdeathisthe
endofhisideas,theendofhistactics,theendofhisguerrillaconcepts,theendofhistheory.Forthe
personwhofell,asamortalperson,asapersonwhofacedbulletstimeandagain,asasoldier,asaleader,
wasathousandtimesmoreablethanthosewhokilledhimbyastrokeofluck.
However,howshouldrevolutionariesfacethisserioussetback?Howshouldtheyfacethisloss?If
Chehadtoexpressanopiniononthispoint,whatwoulditbe?Hegavethisopinion,heexpressedthis

opinionquiteclearlywhenhewroteinhismessagetothe[Tricontinental]LatinAmericanSolidarity
Conferencethatifdeathsurprisedhimanywhere,itwouldbewelcomeaslongashisbattlecryhadreached
areceptiveearandanotherhandreachedouttotakeuphisrifle.
Hisbattlecrywillreachnotjustonereceptiveear,butmillionsofreceptiveears!Andnotonehand
butmillionsofhands,inspiredbyhisexample,willreachouttotakeuparms!Newleaderswillemerge.The
peopleofthereceptiveearsandtheoutstretchedhandswillneedleaderswhoemergefromtheirranks,just
asleadershaveemergedinallrevolutions.
ThosehandswillnothaveavailablealeaderofChesextraordinaryexperienceandenormous
ability.Thoseleaderswillbeformedintheprocessofstruggle.Thoseleaderswillemergefromamongthe
millionsofreceptiveears,fromthemillionsofhandsthatwillsoonerorlaterreachouttotakeuparms.
Itisnotthatwefeelthathisdeathwillnecessarilyhaveimmediaterepercussionsinthepracticalsphereof
revolutionarystruggle,thathisdeathwillnecessarilyhaveimmediaterepercussionsinthepracticalsphere
ofdevelopmentofthisstruggle.ThefactisthatwhenChetookuparmsagainhewasnotthinkingofan
immediatevictoryhewasnotthinkingofaspeedyvictoryagainsttheforcesoftheoligarchiesand
imperialism.Asanexperiencedfighter,hewaspreparedforaprolongedstruggleof5,10,15,or20years,if
necessary.Hewasreadytofight5,10,15,or20years,orallhislifeifneedbe!Andwithinthatperspective,
hisdeathorratherhisexamplewillhavetremendousrepercussions.Theforceofthatexamplewillbe
invincible.
ThosewhoattachsignificancetotheluckyblowthatstruckChedowntryinvaintodenyhis
experienceandhiscapacityasaleader.Chewasanextraordinarilyablemilitaryleader.Butwhenwe
rememberChe,whenwethinkofChe,wedonotthinkfundamentallyofhismilitaryvirtues.No!Warfareisa
meansandnotanend.Warfareisatoolofrevolutionaries.Theimportantthingistherevolution.The
importantthingistherevolutionarycause,revolutionaryideas,revolutionaryobjectives,revolutionary
sentiments,revolutionaryvirtues!
Anditisinthatfield,inthefieldofideas,inthefieldofsentiments,inthefieldofrevolutionary
virtues,inthefieldofintelligence,thatapartfromhismilitaryvirtueswefeelthetremendouslossthat
hisdeathmeanstotherevolutionarymovement.
Chesextraordinarycharacterwasmadeupofvirtuesthatarerarelyfoundtogether.Hestoodout
asanunsurpassedpersonofaction,butChewasnotonlythathewasalsoapersonofvisionary
intelligenceandbroadculture,aprofoundthinker.Thatis,themanofideasandthemanofactionwere
combinedwithinhim.
ButitisnotonlythatChepossessedthedoublecharacteristicofthemanofideasofprofound
ideasandthemanofaction,butthatCheasarevolutionaryunitedinhimselfthevirtuesthatcanbe
definedasthefullestexpressionofthevirtuesofarevolutionary:apersonoftotalintegrity,apersonof
supremesenseofhonor,ofabsolutesincerity,apersonofstoicandSpartanlivinghabits,apersoninwhose
conductnotonestaincanbefound.Heconstituted,throughhisvirtues,whatcanbecalledatrulymodel
revolutionary.
Whenpeopledieitisusualtomakespeeches,toemphasizetheirvirtues.Butrarelycanonesayof
apersonwithgreaterjustice,withgreateraccuracy,whatwesayofCheonthisoccasion:thathewasa
pureexampleofrevolutionaryvirtues!Buthepossessedanotherquality,notaqualityoftheintellectnorof
thewill,notaqualityderivedfromexperience,fromstruggle,butaqualityoftheheart:hewasan
extraordinarilyhumanbeing,extraordinarilysensitive!
Thatiswhywesay,whenwethinkofhislife,whenwethinkofhisconduct,thatheconstitutedthe
singularcaseofamostextraordinaryhuman,abletouniteinhispersonalitynotonlythecharacteristicsof
themanofaction,butalsoofthemanofthought,ofthepersonofimmaculaterevolutionaryvirtuesandof
extraordinaryhumansensibility,joinedwithanironcharacter,awillofsteel,indomitabletenacity.
Becauseofthis,hehaslefttothefuturegenerationsnotonlyhisexperience,hisknowledgeasan
outstandingsoldier,butalso,atthesametime,thefruitsofhisintelligence.Hewrotewiththevirtuosityofa

masterofourlanguage.Hisnarrativesofthewarareincomparable.Thedepthofhisthinkingisimpressive.
Heneverwroteaboutanythingwithlessthanextraordinaryseriousness,withlessthanextraordinary
profundityandwehavenodoubtthatsomeofhiswritingswillpassontoposterityasclassicdocuments
ofrevolutionarythought.
Thus,asfruitsofthatvigorousandprofoundintelligence,heleftuscountlessmemories,countless
narrativesthat,withouthiswork,withouthisefforts,mighthavebeenlostforever.
Anindefatigableworker,duringtheyearsthatheservedourcountryhedidnotknowasingledayofrest.
Manyweretheresponsibilitiesassignedtohim:aspresidentoftheNationalBank,asdirectoroftheCentral
PlanningBoard,asministerofindustry,ascommanderofmilitaryregions,astheheadofpoliticalor
economicorfraternaldelegations.
Hisversatileintelligencewasabletoundertakewithmaximumassuranceanytaskofanykind.Thus
hebrilliantlyrepresentedourcountryinnumerousinternationalconferences,justashebrilliantlyledsoldiers
incombat,justashewasamodelworkerinchargeofanyoftheinstitutionshewasassignedto.Andfor
himtherewerenodaysofrestforhimtherewerenohoursofrest!
Ifwelookedthroughthewindowsofhisoffices,hehadthelightsonallhoursofthenight,studying,
orrather,workingorstudying.Forhewasastudentofallproblemshewasatirelessreader.Histhirstfor
learningwaspracticallyinsatiable,andthehourshestolefromsleephedevotedtostudy.
Hedevotedhisscheduleddaysofftovoluntarywork.Hewastheinspirationandprovidedthe
greatestincentivefortheworkthatistodaycarriedoutbyhundredsofthousandsofpeoplethroughoutthe
country.Hestimulatedthatactivityinwhichourpeoplearemakinggreaterandgreaterefforts.
Asarevolutionary,asacommunistrevolutionary,atruecommunist,hehadaboundlessfaithinmoral
values.Hehadaboundlessfaithintheconsciousnessofhumanbeings.Andweshouldsaythathesaw,
withabsoluteclarity,themoralimpulseasthefundamentalleverintheconstructionofcommunisminhuman
society.
Hethought,developed,andwrotemanythings.Andonadayliketodayitshouldbestatedthat
Cheswritings,Chespoliticalandrevolutionarythought,willbeofpermanentvaluetotheCuban
revolutionaryprocessandtotheLatinAmericanrevolutionaryprocess.Andwedonotdoubtthathisideas
asamanofaction,asamanofthought,asapersonofuntarnishedmoralvirtues,asapersonof
unexcelledhumansensitivity,asapersonofspotlessconducthaveandwillcontinuetohaveuniversal
value.
Theimperialistsboastoftheirtriumphathavingkilledthisguerrillafighterinaction.Theimperialists
boastofatriumphantstrokeofluckthatledtotheeliminationofsuchaformidablemanofaction.But
perhapstheimperialistsdonotknoworpretendnottoknowthatthemanofactionwasonlyoneofthemany
facetsofthepersonalityofthatcombatant.Andifwespeakofsorrow,wearesaddenednotonlyathaving
lostapersonofaction.Wearesaddenedathavinglostapersonofvirtue.Wearesaddenedathavinglosta
personofunsurpassedhumansensitivity.Wearesaddenedathavinglostsuchamind.Wearesaddenedto
thinkthathewasonly39yearsoldatthetimeofhisdeath.Wearesaddenedatmissingtheadditionalfruits
thatwewouldhavereceivedfromthatintelligenceandthateverricherexperience.
Wehaveanideaofthedimensionofthelossfortherevolutionarymovement.However,hereistheweak
sideoftheimperialistenemy:theythinkthatbyeliminatingapersonphysicallytheyhaveeliminatedhis
thinkingthatbyeliminatinghimphysicallytheyhaveeliminatedhisideas,eliminatedhisvirtues,
eliminatedhisexample.
Soshamelessaretheyinthisbeliefthattheyhavenohesitationinpublishing,asthemostnatural
thingintheworld,thebynowalmostuniversallyacceptedcircumstancesinwhichtheymurderedhimafter
hehadbeenseriouslywoundedinaction.Theydonotevenseemawareoftherepugnanceofthe
procedure,oftheshamelessnessoftheacknowledgement.Theyhavepublisheditasifthugs,oligarchs,
andmercenarieshadtherighttoshootaseriouslywoundedrevolutionarycombatant.

Evenworse,theyexplainwhytheydidit.TheyassertthatChestrialwouldhavebeenquiteanearthshaker,
thatitwouldhavebeenimpossibletoplacethisrevolutionaryinthedock.
Andnotonlythat,theyhavenothesitatedtospiritawayhisremains.Beittrueorfalse,theycertainly
announcedtheyhadcrematedhisbody,thusbeginningtoshowtheirfear,beginningtoshowthattheyare
notsosurethatbyphysicallyeliminatingthecombatant,theycaneliminatehisideas,eliminatehisexample.
Chedieddefendingnootherinterest,noothercausethanthecauseoftheexploitedandthe
oppressedofthiscontinent.Chedieddefendingnoothercausethanthecauseofthepoorandthehumble
ofthisearth.Andtheexemplarymannerandtheselflessnesswithwhichhedefendedthatcausecannotbe
disputedevenbyhismostbitterenemies.
Beforehistory,peoplewhoactashedid,peoplewhodoandgiveeverythingforthecauseofthe
poor,growinstaturewitheachpassingdayandfindadeeperplaceintheheartofthepeopleswitheach
passingday.Theimperialistenemiesarebeginningtoseethis,anditwillnotbelongbeforeitwillbeproved
thathisdeathwill,inthelongrun,belikeaseedthatwillgiverisetomanypeopledeterminedtoimitatehim,
manypeopledeterminedtofollowhisexample.
Weareabsolutelyconvincedthattherevolutionarycauseonthiscontinentwillrecoverfromthe
blow,thattherevolutionarymovementonthiscontinentwillnotbecrushedbythisblow.
Fromtherevolutionarypointofview,fromthepointofviewofourpeople,howshouldweviewChes
example?Dowefeelwehavelosthim?Itistruethatwewillnotseenewwritingsofhis.Itistruethatwewill
neveragainhearhisvoice.ButChehasleftaheritagetotheworld,agreatheritage,andwewhoknewhim
sowellcanbecomeinlargemeasurehisbeneficiaries.
Heleftushisrevolutionarythinking,hisrevolutionaryvirtues.Heleftushischaracter,hiswill,his
tenacity,hisspiritofwork.Inaword,heleftushisexample!AndChesexamplewillbeamodelforour
people.Chesexamplewillbetheidealmodelforourpeople!
Ifwewishtoexpresswhatweexpectourrevolutionarycombatants,ourmilitants,ourpeopletobe,
wemustsay,withouthesitation:letthembelikeChe!Ifwewishtoexpresswhatwewantthepeopleof
futuregenerationstobe,wemustsay:letthembelikeChe!Ifwewishtosayhowwewantourchildrento
beeducated,wemustsaywithouthesitation:wewantthemtobeeducatedinChesspirit!Ifwewantthe
modelofaperson,themodelofahumanbeingwhodoesnotbelongtoourtimebuttothefuture,Isayfrom
thedepthsofmyheartthatsuchamodel,withoutasinglestainonhisconduct,withoutasinglestainonhis
action,withoutasinglestainonhisbehavior,isChe!Ifwewishtoexpresswhatwewantourchildrentobe,
wemustsayfromourveryheartsasardentrevolutionaries:wewantthemtobelikeChe!
Chehasbecomeamodelofwhatfuturehumansshouldbe,notonlyforourpeoplebutalsofor
peopleeverywhereinLatinAmerica.Checarriedtoitshighestexpressionrevolutionarystoicism,the
revolutionaryspiritofsacrifice,revolutionarycombativeness,therevolutionarysspiritofwork.Chebrought
theideasofMarxismLeninismtotheirfreshest,purest,mostrevolutionaryexpression.Nootherpersonof
ourtimehascarriedthespiritofproletarianinternationalismtoitshighestpossiblelevelasChedid.
Andwhenonespeaksofaproletarianinternationalist,andwhenanexampleofaproletarian
internationalistissought,thatexample,highaboveanyother,willbetheexampleofChe.Nationalflags,
prejudices,chauvinism,andegoismhaddisappearedfromhismindandheart.Hewasreadytoshedhis
generousbloodspontaneouslyandimmediately,onbehalfofanypeople,forthecauseofanypeople!
Thus,hisbloodfellonoursoilwhenhewaswoundedinseveralbattles,andhisbloodwasshedinBolivia,
fortheliberationoftheexploitedandtheoppressed,ofthehumbleandthepoor.Thatbloodwasshedfor
thesakeofalltheexploitedandalltheoppressed.ThatbloodwasshedforallthepeoplesoftheAmericas
andforthepeopleofVietnambecausewhilefightingthereinBolivia,fightingagainsttheoligarchiesand
imperialism,heknewthathewasofferingVietnamthehighestpossibleexpressionofhissolidarity!
Itisforthisreason,comradesoftherevolution,thatwemustfacethefuturewithfirmnessand
determination,withoptimism.AndinChesexample,wewillalwayslookforinspirationinspirationin

struggle,inspirationintenacity,inspirationinintransigencetowardtheenemy,inspirationininternationalist
feeling!
Therefore,aftertonightsmovingceremony,afterthisincredibledemonstrationofvastpopular
recognitionincredibleforitsmagnitude,discipline,andspiritofdevotionwhichdemonstratesthatour
peopleareasensitive,gratefulpeoplewhoknowhowtohonorthememoryofthebravewhodieincombat,
thatourpeoplerecognizethosewhoservethemwhichdemonstratesthepeoplessolidaritywiththe
revolutionarystruggleandhowthispeoplewillraisealoftandmaintaineverhigheraloftrevolutionary
bannersandrevolutionaryprinciplestoday,inthesemomentsofremembrance,letusliftourspiritsand,with
optimisminthefuture,withabsoluteoptimisminthefinalvictoryofthepeoples,saytoCheandtothe
heroeswhofoughtanddiedwithhim:
Hastalavictoriasiempre![Everonwardtovictory]
Patriaomuerte![Homelandordeath]
Venceremos![Wewillwin]