The Cuban Experience in Florida: Revolution and Exodus
Mirtha Sierra to Fern M. Pence, August 11, 1961

Text from letter

Miami, August 11, 1961

Mrs. Fern M. Pence
Welfare Department
Cuban Refugee Center
Miami

Dear Mrs. Pence:

With deep regret I am submitting my resignation as a Social Worker of this Department, to be effective the 25th day of the present month of August.

This decision was taken by me because my family responsibilities obliged me to do so, as my husband is now working in New York and I have to join him.

I was to express that it has been an honor to be a member of your staff, first of all because I had the opportunity of helping my fellow countrymen in these critical moments; and secondly, because with my modest cooperation I have been helpful to this great program that has so big and noble feelings.

Mr. Pence, you can be proud of your Department, as it is an example of brotherhood and friendship, because here we all feel like we were members of the same big family, as you and all my superiors have treated me with great affection.

The best proof of our gratitude to this generous Country, and to you, will be to always stay with you and to fight, if necessary, to defend, jointly, this great and loved liberty and democracy.

If, as I hope, God helps us to return to our beloved Country someday, we want to have the privilege of having you visit us, at any time, at our homes, and you can be sure you will be as a member of our family.

Respectfully yours,

Martha Sierra