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The Ybor City Museum Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1982. The society is a citizen support organization for the Ybor City Museum State Park and is committed in preserving, promoting and celebrating the unique cultural heritage of Ybor City through programs and exhibits. Rollin' Through History is a newly added program to expand and enhance our mission of preserving, promoting, and celebrating the unique cultural heritage of Ybor City. We offer a variety of presentations and travel to different locations within our community and neighboring counties. The mobile museum is a complimentary program available for any age and any location. We have visited schools, youth clubs, businesses, and senior living facilities. Presentations vary on the request of the organization. Below are just a few presentations that are offered. Ybor City's History Founding of the City Important Women Founding Fathers Immigration Mutual Aid Societies Baseball History Baseball Beginnings in Tampa Baseball' Community Baseball Greats in Tampa Schedule a Visit First name Last name Company Email Phone Select a date Submit Thank you for scheduling. We will contact you soon. For more information or to schedule a visit, complete the form below, contact the office at 813.247.1434 or by email . Brochure As a nonprofit 501(c)(3), we depend on the generosity of our sponsors, donors, and members. To continue our initiative of providing complimentary visits, sponsorships are available for the Rollin' Through History mobile museum. All sponsor levels include 3 months of website recognition, logo or name printed on sign and mobile museum banners at each visit. Become a Sponsor Help us make a difference First name Last name Company Email Select an item ($) * Platinum Level - $1000 Gold Level - $750 Silver Level - $500 Bronze Level - $250 Phone Sponsor Thank you for your sponsorship! Our Sponsors Platinum level Simon Canasi J. Phillip Sauerbrun Mary & Many Alvarez Gold Level Silver Level Bronze Level General Federation of Woman's Clubs (GFWC) New Tampa * To sponsor a different amount, please contact the office at (813) 247-1434.

The Ybor City Museum Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1982. The society is a citizen support organization for the Ybor City Museum State Park and is committed in preserving, promoting and celebrating the unique cultural heritage of Ybor City through programs and exhibits. renew or Become A Member Our members our the heartbeat of our organization. Without the continued support of our members, donors, and sponsors, we would not be able to continue and expand our mission of preserving, promoting, and celebrating the cultural heritage of Ybor City. With your support, we are able to increase the number of programs and educational resources offered to the community, including our new Rollin' Through History mobile museum, and collaborate with more educational institutions and cultural organizations. Your membership helps maintain our presence as a community pillar and ensure the preservation of Ybor City's rich history for future generations. All Membership Levels Include: ~ 12 months admission to the Tampa Baseball Museum at the Al Lopez House ~ Discounts at the Tampa Baseball Museum store ~ F ree or discounted admissions to exclusive Ybor City Historical Society events and programs. ~ SERM and NARM reciprocal admissions at more than 1,000 museums and attractions To renew your membership or to become a new member, please submit your application online at one of the levels below, or download the Membership Application and mail to: PO Box 5421, Tampa, FL 33675. Student ~ Students 18+ with student identification receive benefits for one student. Individual ~ Membership benefits for one adult. Dual ~ Individual membership benefits for two adults. Family ~ Membership benefits for two adults and two children under 18. ~ Additional children $5 Casita Club ~ Membership benefits for two adults. ~ Two guest passes. ~ Website recognition. Preservation Partner ~ Membership benefits for two adults & two children. ~ Four guest passes. ~ Two admissions to Buildings Alive! ~ Website recognition. Ybor Patron ~ Membership benefits for four adults & four children. ~ Eight guest passes. ~ Four admissions to Buildings Alive! ~ Website recognition. Corporate Sponsor ~ Membership benefits for six adults. ~Ten guest passes. ~ Six admissions to Buildings Alive! ~ Website recognition. Membership Application For new and renewing members First name Last name Company Email Code Phone Street Address City Postal / Zip code Region/State/Province Country Select an item ($) * Student (18+) - $25 Individual - $50 Dual - $100 Family - $145 Casita Club - $300 Preservation Partner - $750 Ybor Patron - $1500 Corporate Member - $2500 Submit Thank you for your membership! Thank you to all of our members casita Club, preservation partner, & ybor patrons Robert (Bob) Ziegler Steven Hovsepian & Angela Rodante Columbia Restaurant (Richard Gonzmart) Anthony Carreño & Bill Wear Lilly Rocco Mary Alvarez J. Phillip Sauerbrun Veronica Everett Steve & Schezy Barbas Michael Lozano Jr., MD, PL Dr. Dionel & Mrs. Marina Cotanda

The Ybor City Museum Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1982. The society is a citizen support organization for the Ybor City Museum State Park and is committed in preserving, promoting and celebrating the unique cultural heritage of Ybor City through programs and exhibits. “In a modern city, the natural tendency is to search for something old. The best place to experience Old Tampa is Ybor City, a neighborhood that was once famous for producing quality cigars.” ~ New York Times “The Ybor City Museum State Park is a hidden gem right in the heart of Tampa. This unique building and the story it tells is "What's Right With Tampa Bay.” ~ Fox 13 News “That Tampa story is told well at the Ybor City Museum, which is part of Florida's state park system -- an "urban park" dedicated to preserving Ybor City's remarkable cultural heritage.” ~ Orlando Sentinel NEWS "If you're looking to find out more about Ybor's rich history, look no further than the Ybor City Museum Society." ~ ABC Action News "On the cobbled streets of Ybor City, it's hard to find something more familiar than the roosters that have become a huge part of what makes the area iconic and steeped in history." ~ Bay News 9 "You can see largest artifact of the Tampa Baseball Museum from a mile away. It’s the “casita” that houses the museum. This small bungalow built in 1905 was the childhood home of Al Lopez -- Tampa’s first Major League Baseball player, manager and Hall of Fame inductee." ~ 83 degrees Press Releases 2023 Legacy 2024 Buildings Alive 2023 viva 2024 LEgacy YCMS EXpansion & New CEO newsletters recipes news library

The Ybor City Museum Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1982. The society is a citizen support organization for the Ybor City Museum State Park and is committed in preserving, promoting and celebrating the unique cultural heritage of Ybor City through programs and exhibits. events Signature events include Buildings Alive! Architectural Hop, Legacy Awards, and our recently added ¡Viva! event. All proceeds from events help support the Ybor City Historical Society, the Tampa Baseball Museum at the Al Lopez House, and outreach through our new Rollin' Through History mobile museum program. Book Series Premier The Honorable Robin Fuson Brand new book series about Tampa's baseball legends will kickoff with a story about the Honorable Robin Fuson. Author, Joshua Weaver, Illustrator, Katelynn Meggison, and the story's leading character, Robin Fuson will be at the Tampa Baseball Museum for a book signing. Space is limited and reservations are required. Tampa Baseball Museum at the Al Lopez House TBA Reservations Coming Soon Book Signing Jane Leavy Join us for a book signing with accomplished writer, Jane Leavy. You do not want to miss the opportunity to meet Jane and learn more about baseball. Books will be on sale at the Tampa Baseball Museum store. Light refreshments available. Space is limited and reservations are required. Tampa Baseball Museum at the Al Lopez House Sunday, February 22, 2026 10 am - 12 pm Reservations 14th Annual Buildings Alive Join us for the 14th Annual Buildings Alive event! Hop on one of our trolleys and dive into the historic preservation of Ybor City, with a fun and educational architecture hop. Each stop of the hop will provide light refreshments and behind- the- scenes tours of some of Ybor City's most historic buildings. J.C. Newman Cigar Company Thursday, March 12, 2026 5:oopm - 9:30pm Tickets & Sponsorships Cuscaden Park Lecture Wes Singletary Celebrate Ybor City's 140th Anniversary. What better way to learn about our rich baseball history than with an educational presentation on one of our most beloved parks that served as a baseball hub for decades. Enjoy a captivating evening led by Florida historian, author, and professor, Wes Singletary. Light refreshments included. Space is limited and reservations are required. Tampa Baseball Museum at the Al Lopez House Monday, March 16, 2026 6:30pm - 8:30pm Reservations 42nd Annual Legacy Awards Brunch Join us for the 42nd Annual Legacy Awards Brunch as we celebrate four community members and their significant contributions to the heritage of Ybor City and the wider Tampa Community. Recipients will be announced soon. Columbia Restaurant - Siboney Room Sunday, June 14, 2026 11:30am - 1:30pm Tickets & Sponsorships events library If you are interested in attending events, visit our events library to enhance your upcoming experience. Experience More event Sponsors Thank you to all our sponsors for helping make each and every event spectacular and successful. Event Sponsors Ongoing Sponsors

The Ybor City Museum Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1982. The society is a citizen support organization for the Ybor City Museum State Park and is committed in preserving, promoting and celebrating the unique cultural heritage of Ybor City through programs and exhibits. news library Events Library If you are interested in upcoming events, browse past events to enhance your upcoming experience. newsletter library If you missed a newsletter or are interested in reading former newsletters, feel free to visit our library. Recipe Library Delicious recipes that you may have missed can be found on this page. Let us know if you try and enjoy the provided recipes.

The Ybor City Museum Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1982. The society is a citizen support organization for the Ybor City Museum State Park and is committed in preserving, promoting and celebrating the unique cultural heritage of Ybor City through programs and exhibits. 2021 events Legacy Awards 2021 2021 Vicente Martinez-Ybor Award: The Al Lopez Family 2021 Anthony "Tony" Pizzo Award: Anthony "Tony" Carreño 2021 Adela Gonzmart Award: Patrick Venable News library newsletter library recipe library events library

The Ybor City Museum Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1982. The society is a citizen support organization for the Ybor City Museum State Park and is committed in preserving, promoting and celebrating the unique cultural heritage of Ybor City through programs and exhibits. Volunteering at the YCMS during my senior semester at USF opened experiences and doors I did not think would open. For example, I had lovely conversations and gained trust with the staff, who guided me into expanding my business skills and developing my museum experience. They also motivated me to persevere through the difficult moments in my life. Lastly, the YCMS opened doors for me to use my business and recent USF history degree skills to benefit new companies opening in the Florida region. Sabrina, USF Intern Volunteer

The Ybor City Museum Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1982. The society is a citizen support organization for the Ybor City Museum State Park and is committed in preserving, promoting and celebrating the unique cultural heritage of Ybor City through programs and exhibits. Part Six: Un Mundo en Guerra / A World at War Chapter Fifty-Six "Los Helados", named for their delicious homemade ice cream, was known for serving some of the best food in Ybor City and West Tampa. Fernando and Giuseppina didn't mind waiting for a table. Though it was a Tuesday afternoon, the dining room was filled to capacity. It was two days before Thanksgiving, 1941, and Fernando relished this yearly tradition. He would work half the day on Tuesday, and not return to work until the following Monday. He and Giuseppina would meet at "Los Helados" for lunch, and then they would shop for the food for their yearly Thanksgiving celebration, which had now become legendary. The last three years had been especially festive since Luciano would come down from Gainesville. At Giuseppina's insistence, since Luciano had been away at school, the holiday was now combined with celebrating Fernando's birthday. She cherished the special bond between her husband and her son, and this was an opportunity for Luciano to participate in honoring his father. After eating more than they had intended, Fernando and Giuseppina walked two blocks over to La Séptima. Their first stop was "La Montañesa", arguably the best butcher shop in all of Tampa. Within the Spanish community they were legendary for their traditional Spanish sausages such as chorizo, morcilla, and butifarra. Giuseppina had mastered the art of "fusion" cuisine for Thanksgiving, combining the traditional American foods with a few Spanish and Sicilian side dishes. After several more stops along La Séptima, they drove north along 15th Street. The choosing of the turkeys marked the traditional end of the food shopping. Their favorite poultry store actually had no official name. It was a combination hardware store, animal feed store, and poultry store, known among the locals as "La Pollería" ("The Poultry"). Located near El Barrio Candamo, the owner was a Spaniard known simply as "El Marqués" ("The Marquis"). No one seemed to know his actual name, nor did it matter. A man of few words, El Marqués exuded an air of superiority, almost to the point of arrogance. He was, however, indisputably the "Marquis of Poultry". Giuseppina wouldn't dream of buying her poultry anywhere else, especially the Thanksgiving turkeys. Within 35 minutes of choosing two of the best-looking live birds, Fernando and Giuseppina placed them, now plucked and dressed, in their new Frigidaire refrigerator. Fernando's next assignment was to stay as far away from the kitchen as possible as Giuseppina began the almost incessant cooking for the next 48 hours. Luciano would be arriving at 7:30 p.m. that evening by train. Fernando was to pick him up at Tampa's Union Station. The afternoon was cool enough that Fernando decided to build a fire in the fireplace, the first of this Florida winter. As he gathered some logs and kindling wood from the storage shed in the backyard, his thoughts wandered back to San Roman and his childhood. One of his favorite tasks was to gather "leña" (kindling wood) for the almost continuous fire that burned in the kitchen of his childhood home. Walking through the large kitchen, Fernando was sure that Pina was oblivious to his presence. Noticing that there was no available counter space remaining in the kitchen, Fernando remembered another yearly tradition. On the way home from the train station, Luciano and he were to stop at "Cafetería Mercedes" and bring home dinner. He smiled to himself, amazed and pleased at the passion with which Giuseppina expressed her love for her friends and family through food. Fernando's planning had paid off. The previous spring, Fernando helped Ignacio and his sons remove several large oaks in order to expand their barn. His reward was enough firewood to last more Florida winters than he had left in his life. Wary of the summer rains and humidity, Fernando had meticulously stored the oak logs well off the ground and protected from rain. Within minutes the dry wood had produced a beautiful fire. Fernando laid on the couch, hoping to take a brief nap. His thoughts again drifted back to San Roman as an occasional downdraft filled the room with the smell of burning wood. As he began to drift off to sleep, he thought of his older brother, Pelayo. Eventually, the International Red Cross had succeeded in obtaining information about his family in Spain. Pelayo had been killed during the Asturias Offensive of the Spanish Civil War in the fall of 1937. It was Pelayo who had shown Fernando how to build a good fire. The smell of burning wood would always remind Fernando of Pelayo, and the pain and suffering that wars inflict. Beneath the veneer of the good life he was enjoying lay the fear that the foolishness of men would soon engulf the entire world in turmoil. The war in Europe had been raging for two years, with no end in sight. He thought of Luciano, Rafael and so many other young men whose lives might soon be in danger. His mind racing, Fernando decided that sleep was not possible at the moment. He turned on the radio to listen to the NBC evening news at 5:00 p.m. The signature three gongs, "N...B...C", helped divert his thoughts away from Spain and Pelayo. Reality came back to haunt him as the first news item was read. Tensions between Japan and the United States were quickly escalating. In an attempt to halt Japanese expansionism in Asia, the U.S.A. had imposed a trade embargo against Japan, pushing that island nation to the point of desperation. Fernando switched stations. Raising the volume, "Big Band" music filled the air as he rushed into the kitchen. Pulling Giuseppina away from the large wooden worktable, Fernando began coaxing her into their version of the jitterbug. They began to laugh as Fernando pulled her close to him, hugging and kissing her. Their laughter increased as they saw that Fernando's shirt and pants were white with flour. Fernando gave Pina another hug, then showered and changed his clothes. "Papa, aquí!" "Dad, here!" Luciano's voice could easily be heard above the din of the busy train station. As he ran toward Fernando, the proud father, for the first time, realized his son was no longer a boy, but an impressive young man. Now twenty years old, Luciano bore a striking resemblance to Pelayo, his uncle that died while defending the Spanish Republic. Father and son embraced. "Lou! Que tal, hombre! How are you doing?" Rafael, speaking in that combination of Spanish and English so typical of his generation, warmly greeted Luciano. It was the day after Thanksgiving, and the Prendes family was hosting their friends and family with a "left-overs" party. As the women were organizing the food onto large buffet tables, the men gathered on the porch and around an outdoor fire. The conversations were largely centered around the increasingly tense international geopolitical situation. Much to Giuseppina's dismay, Luciano was obsessed with the possibility of the U.S.A. entering the ongoing war. As a student at the University of Florida, he was required to participate in the Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) program for a minimum of his first two years. He had elected to join the Army Air Corp program and voluntarily extended his participation to his current third year. He found himself drawn to the military culture. Luciano and Rafael were sitting next to each other as they ate their lunch. Giuseppina and Sofia were seated nearby. Luciano continued rambling on, telling Rafael that it was inevitable that the U.S.A. would enter the war and that they should be prepared to volunteer to fight for their country. His recruitment effort was suddenly loudly interrupted by his mother. "Luciano! Basta! Nun parra chiù de guerra!" Giuseppina, normally reserved, yelled at her son in Sicilian. She told him that this was enough talk about war. After a few seconds of silence, Fernando went over to Giuseppina and hugged her. They went into the kitchen, followed by Sofia. "Es que no quiero oír nada más sobre guerra. Ya perdimos a tu hermano, y no quiero perder otro hijo por las tonterías de hombres!" Giuseppina, still upset, reiterated that she didn't want to hear anything else about war. They had already lost Fernando's brother, and she didn't want to lose another son because of the foolishness of men. The pain of losing her baby son, Gaetano, would always be with Giuseppina. Luciano had come into the kitchen. He hugged his mother and promised her there would be no more talk about war. Giuseppina regained her composure and returned to the dining area. Several other mothers approached her, sharing their mutual concerns. The festivities continued with no further discussions about war or the international political situation. Luciano kept his promise to his mother for the rest of the holiday weekend. On Sunday, Luciano returned to Gainesville. As usual, Fernando was concerned about being late. "Pina, por favor. Ya son las once y cuarto y la comida empieza a las doce. Tenemos que reunir con Ignacio y Sofía a las doce menos cuarto." Fernando reminded his wife that the lunch started at noon, and it was already 11:15 a.m. He also reminded her that they were to meet the Prendeses at 11:45 a.m. It was Sunday, exactly one week after Luciano had returned to Gainesville after his Thanksgiving break. The Centro Español de Tampa was celebrating the 50th anniversary of its founding, which was on December 21, 1891. In order to avoid conflicting with Christmas festivities, the society scheduled the celebration two weeks early. The Centro Español had two clubhouses, one in Ybor City and one in West Tampa. A banquet and dance were scheduled today at both clubhouses. Fernando and Giuseppina agreed to join Ignacio and Sofía at the celebration in West Tampa. The Centro Español clubhouse in West Tampa was on the corner of Howard Avenue and Cherry Street. Designed in the Spanish Moorish architectural style, it was an imposing three story brick structure, and considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Tampa. Fernando and Giuseppina arrived at the clubhouse a few minutes before Sofia and Ignacio. Surprised at the large turnout, Fernando suggested that Pina enter and hold four seats together. Within minutes, the Prendeses arrived. The banquet was being held in the casino area on the main floor. Tables had been placed end on end to form half a dozen very long rows. Locating Giuseppina, they took their seats next to her. For the next two hours they feasted on seemingly endless Spanish delicacies. The meal was catered by Las Novedades restaurant. Fernando and Ignacio reminisced about Fernando's first meal, which was also his first Cuban sandwich, at the now famous restaurant. This was two days after Fernando arrived from Havana, 41 years ago. They agreed that it really did seem like yesterday. After a few more swigs of Anis del Mono, the Spanish anise seed liqueur, the two couples rose to their feet and began following the crowd. Ascending the beautiful marble staircase which led upstairs to the ballroom, Fernando could hear the strains of the popular Spanish paso doble ("two step"), "Que Viva España" ("May Spain Live"). This popular song had become the unofficial "anthem" for Spanish fiestas in Tampa, usually played at the start and end of festivities. Not wanting to miss the traditional first dance, the crowd hurried up the stairs into the large ballroom. As couples two-stepped in the traditional large moving circle, the music suddenly stopped. Celestino Torrens, a member of the board of directors of Centro Español, was on the small stage. He held a microphone in one hand. He raised and lowered his other hand, signaling for silence. He began to speak. "Estimados damas y caballeros. Tengo un anuncio de gran y grave importancia. Hace como veinte minutos que anunciaron por la radio que las fuerzas armadas de Japón han atacado la base naval de Los Estados Unidos en Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. En este momento sigue el ataque, y los reportajes dicen que hay una gran pérdida de vida." Mr. Torrens said that he had to make an announcement of great and grave importance. Twenty minutes earlier, a radio announcement said that the armed forces of Japan had attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. At this very moment, the attack was continuing, and reports indicate a heavy loss of life. Shouts and cries of anguish, confusion, outrage and disbelief filled the ballroom, then quickly subsided. Giuseppina, grasping her face with both hands, yelled "Luciano! No!" Most of the guests simply froze in place, blank faces staring at each other. Others scrambled down the stairs and began gathering their belongings. Marina Ramirez, one of Sofia's friends, was screaming hysterically. As Marina's husband and Sofia tried to comfort her, she explained that her younger brother had written her two weeks prior from Hawaii. He was a midshipman assigned to the "USS Arizona", and currently based at Pearl Harbor. Fernando and Ignacio did their best to comfort their wives. Though no one spoke the words, it was clear that this meant war for the United States. The two couples slowly descended that beautiful marble staircase. The casino area was now almost empty. They gathered their personal items and drove home in stunned silence. Immediately after returning home, Giuseppina asked Fernando to telephone Luciano in Gainesville. Fernando tried to assure her that their son hadn’t enlisted in the military. Giuseppina insisted, already having called Carmela and Pilar. Her maternal instincts told her to check on her brood. Rumors of an imminent Japanese invasion of California were causing near hysteria across the country. Fernando, secretly concerned as well, relented. Luciano assured his parents that he was fine and had no plans to join the military, at least not at the moment. He reminded them that the U.S. was still a neutral country and perhaps negotiations could avert a war, though both he and Fernando knew this was not a possibility. By Wednesday, December 10, 1941, the U.S.A. was formally at war with Japan, Germany and Italy. Life in Tampa and the entire country was changing by the hour. The war became more personal a few days later. Sofia called Giuseppina and told her that Marina Ramirez’ younger brother, Francisco, had been killed during the Pearl Harbor attack. “Apaguen las luces! Lights out! Apaguen las luces!” Five days into the war, Tampa was having its first blackout drill. Cities along the Pacific, Gulf, and Atlantic coasts would soon be required to extinguish lights or drape blackout curtains on windows after sunset. Rumors abounded of German U-boats in the Gulf of Mexico. It was becoming difficult to distinguish among truth, fact, and rumor. What was certain was that change was coming, and coming fast. It was clear that one of the few benefits of the war was a rapidly improving economy. While the cigar industry remained a major part of Tampa’s economy, the city had begun to diversify in the late 1930s. Tampa had benefited from the industrial base established by the cigar industry. MacDill Air Force base had been established in 1939, in anticipation of the European war eventually involving the U.S.A. Similarly, Drew Field, an Army Air Corp base, had been established in Northwest Tampa, adjacent to Ignacio’s dairy farm. The Port of Tampa had been expanded with the addition of the McCloskey Shipyard which was building concrete boats for the United States Department of War. Tampa, like many other U.S. cities, was becoming a beehive of activity because of the war. As the initial shock of Pearl Harbor subsided, a strange sense of a new normalcy took root. The rationing of certain items, such as gasoline, sugar, and meat, also served to unite the citizenry. People were bonding through a sense of a common purpose. Unfortunately, trying times also provide opportunities for the unscrupulous. Within days of mandated rationing, a black market emerged. Rationed items obtained through theft and other means could be purchased for hugely inflated prices. Fernando was reminded of the bribe they paid in Spain to obtain their transit papers. He avoided cynicism by focusing on fact that the vast majority of people were doing the right thing. Santa Lucia, December 13, fell on the Saturday after the Pearl Harbor attack. Giuseppina and her family decided to have a more subdued celebration as a sign of espect toward the fallen Americans. Because Gaetano and Sebastiana were in their early 80s, the yearly celebration was now hosted by the Suárez family. Carmela and Pilar, Giuseppina’s daughters, along with Rosa, her older sister, spent the day helping Giuseppina prepare the simple menu. Rosa had never married and lived with her parents, helping to care for them. Luciano would be arriving for the Christmas holiday break that afternoon. Fernando, sitting in the living room, was reading”La Gaceta” and listening to the radio. He could hear the women speaking as they worked in the kitchen. He had become familiar enough with Sicilian to understand the gist of what was being said. Rosa asked Giuseppina if it would be possible to send Luciano to live in Cuba. Pilar said something about Gaetano’s brother who was living in Argentina. Lowering the volume on the radio, Fernando put the newspaper down and focused on the continuing conversation. It was clear that the women were discussing ways that Luciano might avoid being drafted into the armed forces. Fernando considered going into the kitchen and confronting the women but decided against it. He admitted to himself that he had been having similar thoughts throughout the past week. On the other hand, he viewed the war as essentially a continuation of the Spanish Civil War, and an opportunity to finally rid Europe of the evils of Fascism. As patriotic Americans, they would do their part to assist their country. Luciano’s train was due to arrive at 4:30p.m. Though gasoline rationing was not yet mandatory, the authorities were strongly recommending voluntarily curtailing the consumption of the fuel, until the logistical details could be implemented. Fernando decided that rather than drive to the train station, he would take the streetcar. It would be good to “practice” for the inevitable. He said goodbye to the women and walked five blocks south to Columbus Dr., formerly known as Michigan Ave. There he caught a streetcar to Nebraska Ave, where he transferred to another line which took him to Union Station. By 5:30 p.m. Luciano was in the kitchen kissing and hugging his mother, sisters, and aunt. Fernando had forewarned his son about the conversation he had heard, and urged him to dodge any questions about his future plans concerning the military. As Luciano climbed the stairs to take his luggage to his bedroom, Fernando followed him. As Luciano was unpacking, Fernando closed the bedroom door behind him. “Hijo, ya sabes lo que vas a hacer? Te han dicho algo?” Fernando asked his son if he knew what he was going to do, and had they told him anything. Luciano understood exactly what his father was asking. He replied that nothing was certain, but the War Department was apparently talking to the Air Corp ROTC about developing a special program for promising students. Those selected would be offered a direct commission as an officer. This would include the opportunity to compete for coveted pilot training positions. Luciano emphasized that this was only speculation, and nothing was certain, or imminent. He told Fernando that he was almost certain he would finish his third year of college. Luciano promised he would not share any of this with anyone else. Fernando gave him a hug. The Santa Lucia celebration went well. Giuseppina, now active in her neighborhood church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH), invited Father Amorelli, one of the priests assigned to OLPH, to join them. A native Sicilian, he related well to the Ybor City community. He offered a special prayer for peace, while urging all present to remain loyal to their adopted country. Initially, Fernando was a bit puzzled by this, but then it dawned on him that Italy and Spain were two of the three major Fascist countries in Europe. He also wondered if Spain would be entering the war as an ally of Germany and Italy. In the last several days there had been numerous reports of anti-Japanese violence against many Japanese-Americans on the Pacific coast of the U.S., many of whom were American citizens. He wondered if this prejudice might eventually extend to Americans of German or Italian ancestry. Clearly, his family considered themselves to be Americans first, but perhaps there were those who felt conflicting loyalties. The myriad complications and implications of this war were only just beginning to present themselves. Above the din of the Santa Lucia celebration, Luciano, talking with Rafael, heard the phone ringing. He raced over to answer. “Hola. Quien hablo? Fernando?” The caller, obviously speaking American-accented and incorrect Spanish, asked if he were speaking to Fernando. Luciano replied. “Hi. I speak English. Would you like to speak with Fernando?” The caller replied back. “Is this Luciano? Luciano, this is Aaron Winchester! Do you remember me?” Luciano, hardly believing his ears, could not contain his excitement. “Captain Winchester, is that you? I can’t believe this! Where are you, sir? Rafael, get over here!” Rafael, now standing next to Luciano, shared in the conversation, as Luciano positioned the telephone receiver between them. “’Phoenix’ is in Tampa for some needed repairs. As I promised you all five years ago, I’m calling with the hope that we can see each other while I’m here. Would that be possible? Wow, you must have a party going on. I know it’s the holidays and all, but…..” Luciano, interrupting Captain Winchester, explained that there was a pre-Christmas celebration going on. He apologized for the noise, assuring the captain that they would insist on seeing him. The captain was staying at the Hotel Hillsboro in downtown Tampa. Luciano explained that he would call him back shortly after speaking to his father. Hanging up the phone, Luciano raced across the living room to Fernando. Fernando, sharing in his son’s excitement, found Giuseppina and explained. She suggested that they invite him for a traditional Sicilian Sunday afternoon dinner the next day. Luciano quickly telephoned Captain Winchester and extended the invitation. Asking for assurance that it was not an inconvenience, he confessed that a home-cooked Sicilian meal sounded perfect. They agreed that Fernando and Luciano would pick him up at noon the next day. Captain Winchester hadn't changed much over the past five years. However, the captain wasn't able to say the same about Luciano. The first ten minutes of the reunion was spent convincing the captain that the imposing young man embracing him was, in fact, the same person as that then 14-year-old kid who would never leave the bridge of "The Phoenix". After several more minutes of hugging and reminiscing, the three men left the hotel. When they entered the Suárez home, Captain Winchester was greeted as a returning hero. Assuming it would be a quiet lunch for four people, the captain was overwhelmed by the number of people he encountered. The entire Suárez and Prendes families, as well as Gaetano, Sebastiana, and Rosa were present. It was a quick and enjoyable introduction to a typical Ybor City family Sunday lunch. "Por favor, deja que el capitán respire! Please, let the captain breathe!" Luciano, seeking to rescue Aaron from the onslaught of hugs and kisses, reigned in the reception. Fernando led Captain Winchester through the kitchen and onto the large concrete patio in the back yard. Several long tables had been set up beneath a trellis adorned with vines. Luckily, the weather was perfect for an outdoor meal. Captain Winchester, Fernando, Ignacio, Luciano, and Rafael sat near each other at one end of a table. Within minutes the almost endless platters of food began arriving from the kitchen. The captain was enthralled by the warmth he felt. He confessed that while he loves his job, there are times he misses the stability of a family life. He was now almost 60 years old and was thinking of settling down somewhat. While in Tampa, he was made aware by his company of the possibility of a new work assignment. The company was bidding on a five-year contract to haul phosphate from the Port of Tampa to Valparaiso, Chile. The return voyage would import guano for processing into fertilizer in Tampa. The round trip would take almost one month, and he would have an entire month ashore between runs. Aaron accepted the assignment, as it fit in perfectly with his desire to "semi-retire". He had grown fond of Tampa during his brief stay and was considering making it his home. Giuseppina and her sister Rosa were seated across from Captain Winchester, with Luciano sitting beside them. Though the two sisters had a limited understanding of English, Luciano did his best to translate the conversation into Sicilian for them. At one point, the captain, noticing Luciano's efforts, apologized to the women for unintentionally excluding them from the conversation. Through Luciano, they assured him that no offense was taken. He returned their smile, with a lingering gaze focused on Rosa. "Pina and Rosa, this was one of the very best meals I've ever eaten, and I've enjoyed food in some very good restaurants in Italy! Thank you so very much for your hospitality." After the meal, everyone settled in for a quiet afternoon of conversation and relaxation. The young children played on the swings Fernando had bought for them, with their mothers close by. Fernando's and Ignacio's grandchildren had bonded as close cousins, assuring that the bonds between the two families would continue. Rosa, Giuseppina and some of the other women were in the kitchen, cleaning up after the meal. The men remained at the lunch table, awaiting their coffee and dessert. Captain Winchester, enjoying a Cuesta-Rey cigar offered to him by Fernando, glanced around him, smiling. "This is a good life, gentlemen. I've enjoyed seeing so much of the world, but this is not bad either. I'm looking forward to having a place to call home. Fernando, is your sister-in-law a single woman? I hope my question isn't out of place." Luciano, sensing that his father didn't quite understand the question, clarified it for him in Spanish. Fernando, looking somewhat surprised, replied that Rosa had never married, and was devoted to caring for Gaetano and Sebastiana, her parents. The captain admitted that he felt drawn to Rosa and wondered if it would be appropriate to ask her out to dinner at some point. Fernando explained that Rosa had led a somewhat sheltered life, having had few, if any, contacts with men outside her family and close family friends. Captain Winchester asked how he might best approach the situation, especially with the language barrier. Fernando said he would speak with Giuseppina and ask her opinion. Fernando then briefly commented on the delicate nature of Sicilian men and their daughters. Captain Winchester, with a smile, thanked Fernando. Several hours later, Fernando and Luciano drove Captain Winchester back to his hotel. They agreed that they would see each other again very soon. That evening, as Giuseppina was brushing her hair and preparing for bed, Fernando sat on the bed near her. Somewhat uncomfortably, he fumbled through several efforts to broach the subject of Captain Winchester's interest in Rosa. Pina, putting down her hairbrush, laughed and turned toward Fernando. Mercifully, she asked him if Aaron was interested in spending some time with her sister. Looking both relieved and surprised, Fernando confirmed her suspicions. Pina then confessed that he had spared her the awkwardness of bringing it up, saying that the attraction between them was obvious. She confessed that Rosa, while they were in the kitchen, had asked her whether Aaron was married. After sharing a laugh, they agreed they would play the role of Cupid, and probably that of chaperones. Pina reminded her husband that the rigid rules of a proper Sicilian courtship still applied, regardless of the woman's age. If there was to be a courtship, it would have to be a proper one. Gaetano and Sebastiana would insist upon it. The next day, Fernando called Captain Winchester and told him that he was invited to join Giuseppina and him for dinner at the Licata home on Wednesday, two days later. He also assured him that all was well, and that Rosa was very receptive to his overtures. Pina had talked with her sister that morning. She told Giuseppina that their parents had found Aaron to be very charming, and they all looked forward to seeing him again. Captain Winchester was waiting at the entrance to the Hillsboro Hotel just before 12:00 PM. Fernando parked his car nearby and walked over to the captain. "Captain Winchester, it is so very good to see you again. We will go to lunch and then to the Licata farm. I will show you around the farm this afternoon. How does that sound?" Fernando thought it would be a good idea for the captain and him to have an opportunity to talk privately before their dinner at the Licata home. "Fernando, that would be terrific. My uncle had a small farm just outside Amarillo, and I always enjoyed spending time there. By the way, please call me Aaron from now on!" Aaron enjoyed the drive from downtown Tampa, around the port and south through Palmetto Beach. Palmetto Beach was essentially a small "suburb" of Ybor City. South of First Ave., it was a neighborhood with several cigar factories and many businesses tied into the adjacent Port of Tampa. Ethnically similar to Ybor City, many of its residents were Anglo, but some spoke and understood Spanish to varying degrees. Aaron turned to Fernando. "Fernando, I can smell that mixture of salt air and diesel fuel. I feel at home here. Tampa continues to attract me in many ways." After crossing the 22nd St. causeway and bridge, they arrived at the Seabreeze Restaurant. It was a favorite of local Tampeños, Latin and non-Latin as well. Fernando suggested a light lunch since dinner would be more than substantial. The two men took their seats at a table next to a large window. "Aaron, may I order for you as well?" Aaron nodded in agreement. Soon the captain was indulging in a Cuban sandwich, a devil crab, and a Coke. "Fernando, other than the Coca-Cola, I've never had any of this food before. It's fantastic, especially the crab croquette." "Aaron, if you want to be a true Tampeño, you must call it a 'devil crab'. Never call it a croquette in English, and never, ever, a 'DEVILED crab'!" Aaron was quickly learning that Tampa had unique foods and a unique way of saying certain things. He confessed he had always been drawn to the unusual, and this was reinforcing his attraction to Tampa. Aaron was surprised at the size of the Licata farm and warehouse. Business was unusually brisk, as Christmas was only a week away. Restaurants and grocery stores were placing unusually large orders. Fernando wondered if, because of the war, people were preparing for years of hardship by splurging on this particular holiday. Mandated food rationing was to begin by February. Fernando led Aaron through the warehouse, dodging the numerous forklifts and employees that were hurrying about. They entered the quiet solitude of Fernando's glass-enclosed office. Aaron took a seat on the couch across from Fernando's desk. Fernando could tell that Aaron was impressed by his surroundings. "Aaron, Rosa's parents have built a very good business, as you can see. If you intend to spend time with Rosa, you probably need to know more about the family." Fernando then proceeded to offer Aaron a version of the same talk that Gaetano had with him on the night of his marriage to Giuseppina. Without revealing more than was necessary, Fernando, in general terms, revealed that the Licata business interests included untoward activities. Almost apologetically, Fernando clarified his own role, making it clear he had no direct involvement beyond the food distribution aspects. Aaron, having listened intently, sat silent for a while. He then told Fernando that he had heard workers along the docks of Tampa talking about a powerful Sicilian family that practically controlled the local longshoremen's union. Fernando, hearing this, pursed his lips and raised his eyebrows. Aaron got the message. Fernando then delicately let Aaron know that none of this extended anyway into the lives of Fernando and his immediate family. The operations of that"other" part of the Licata business was handled by Rosario and Turiddu, Rosa's brothers. Fernando, now smiling, offered to take Aaron on a tour of the warehouse and farm. Dinner was earlier than usual because the Suarezes, along with Rosa and Aaron, we're going to a late movie after dinner. This had been arranged by Fernando and Giuseppina, with Rosa's and Aaron's consent. All of Giuseppina's siblings and their families were at the dinner, a Wednesday evening tradition for the Licatas. As Fernando had predicted, Rosario was a bit distant, as usual. Turiddu was, as always, animated and engaging, and appeared to take a liking to Aaron. Aaron's introduction to the Licata clan appeared to go well. The Tampa Theatre was Tampa's premiere movie house. Built in 1926, it was Tampa's first air-conditioned public building. Fernando and Pina enjoyed movies, and especially viewing them in this particular venue. Over the years they had developed a routine. They would usually attend in the middle of the week and their preferred seating area was the balcony. Since Pina's English was very limited, Fernando would softly whisper to her, in Spanish, the gist of the plot. In order to avoid disturbing other patrons, they chose evenings and seating locations which almost guaranteed they would not be near others. As they were taking their seats, Fernando explained the routine to Aaron. "Fernando, I'm learning that you folks in Tampa have very clever ways of adapting to the multiple cultures in which you live!" Fernando smiled, thinking he understood this, but wasn't really sure. With the two sisters seated between the men, the newsreel began. Naturally, most of it dealt with the new war, and the news was distressing. The feature movie tonight was Alfred Hitchcock's "Suspicion", set in England. Fernando was dismayed, as his understanding of English was always challenged by British accents. Aaron, always one for a laugh, proposed a four-way translation. He would translate British English to American English. Fernando would then translate this into Spanish, and then Giuseppina would relay it to Rosa in Sicilian. As this, itself, was being appropriately translated, the foursome broke into uncontrollable laughter. Giuseppina's heart was warmed as she saw Rosa the happiest she had seen her in years. That same night, as Pina and Fernando lay in bed, they began discussing Aaron and Rosa. Pina sensed that her parents approved of them spending time together, as long as the relationship remained respectful. They both agreed that Aaron was a sincere and honest man of whom they were very fond. Pina lamented the fact that Aaron was living alone in a hotel during the holiday season. Fernando offered that he felt the same way. Hesitatingly, he asked Pina if she would be comfortable if they were to invite Aaron to stay with them until his ship was ready to sail again, which would be in approximately three weeks. Pina, smiling, said she thought that would be a good idea, as long as Aaron would accompany Fernando to work everyday. Luciano was rarely at home during the day, and, in her opinion, it would be inappropriate for her to be alone in the house with Aaron. This reflected no distrust of Aaron, this rule was simply ingrained in the Sicilian culture. Fernando agreed. He would speak with Aaron the next day. Aaron was visibly moved by the offer. He initially declined, but after a bit of coaxing from Fernando, he graciously accepted, offering to help out in the Licata warehouse, as a courtesy. He confessed that hotel life was getting boring. That night he moved into Pilar's former bedroom, across the hall from Luciano. The next two weeks went by quickly. An almost endless stream of Christmas and New Year dinners, parties and events were a welcome diversion from the bad news related to the war. Rosa and Aaron were becoming very close, somehow managing to overcome the partial language barrier. The Licata family embraced Aaron as, if nothing else, a new friend. Even Rosario seemed to fall under the captain's spell. On the Saturday after New Year's Day, Luciano returned to Gainesville. Fernando had asked Aaron to chat with Luciano about his future plans, knowing that his son would share certain thoughts with the captain that he wouldn't share with his parents. While Fernando didn't relish the idea of "spying" on his son, he wanted to perhaps prepare Giuseppina for Luciano's inevitable entry into the military. Draft notices had begun arriving with regularity. Aaron shared with Fernando that his son was seriously considering enlisting in the Army Air Corp. Fernando decided to spare his wife this news, at least until it was more definitive. A few days after Luciano returned to school, Aaron informed his adopted family that his ship, "The Phoenix", was out of dry dock and ready to sail. He would immediately be moving into his onboard cabin in order to prepare for his first roundtrip run to Valparaiso, Chile. He would be leaving Tampa in two days. The next day Aaron invited the Suarezes and Rosa to a "farewell" dinner on board "The Phoenix". He had asked the cook to prepare a special feast for his very special friends. After a delicious dinner that lasted three hours, it was time to bid farewell to Aaron. As the guests began to disembark the ship, Aaron gently placed his hand on Rosa's arm, causing her to pause. Fernando gestured to Pina to continue walking ahead of them. A short distance ahead, the Suarezes stopped and turned around. They saw that Aaron had cupped both his hands over those of Rosa, and gently kissed her on each of her cheeks. Pina dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief. "Pina, Rosa ha oído algo de Aaron? Ya sabe cuando regresa a Tampa?" Fernando stood, hugging and kissing Pina. He then asked her if Rosa had heard anything about Aaron. He wondered if she knew when he was returning to Tampa. It was early February 1942. Fernando, exhausted, was sitting at the kitchen table, sipping café con leche, when Pina arose and came downstairs. Fernando had been up all night, helping out at the Licata farm. A severe freeze and frost the night before had threatened the crops. Temperatures had fallen to the high 20s. To minimize damage, the staff had lighted smudge pots all through the night, salvaging what they could. Even Rosario and Turiddu, normally removed from the operations of the farm, assisted. The Licata financial security was now quite independent of the produce business. However, it remained a source of pride for Gaetano, and the family had decided to keep it going as long as possible. "Hablé con ella anoche. Recibió un telegrama ayer desde Panamá, y parece que llegará en tres días." Giuseppina told Fernando that she talked with her sister the night before. Rosa received a telegram from Aaron sent from Panama. He would be arriving in Tampa in three days. Special security measures were in place for ships transiting the Panama Canal, and Aaron had been delayed there for two days. Fernando was relieved to hear the news, but secretly remained concerned. The waters of the Gulf of Mexico had become the most dangerous waters in the world. German U-boats now regularly prowled the Gulf, seeking to sink ships carrying cargo into or out of U.S. ports. He did not share this news with Rosa or Pina, who preferred not hearing war news. "Hola, amigos! Como están?" Captain Winchester's voice was easily audible above the din of the heavy machinery unloading the guano from "The Phoenix". As he greeted Rosa, Pina, and Fernando, his pace quickened as he stepped from the gangplank onto the wharf. He immediately embraced Rosa, kissing her gently on her forehead. As Fernando was complimenting him on his Spanish, Aaron turned to Pina and him, quickly embracing them. "Let's go to the Seabreeze Restaurant. I want devil crabs and more!" At Aaron's suggestion, they were soon headed toward the Seabreeze for an early dinner. The timing was good, as it was a Saturday and the restaurant would be very busy that night. The captain devoured his food, while repeatedly saying how much he had missed Tampa. He also began to comment on the increased military presence at and near the Panama Canal. Fernando discretely kicked his foot underneath the table, signaling him to change the subject. Fernando was able to quickly redirect the conversation. After dinner, the two couples returned to the Licata home for dessert and coffee. Gaetano and Sebastiana had insisted on seeing Aaron. As the women were clearing the dining room table, Aaron explained that his new sailing routine appealed to him, but safety was a big concern within the maritime community. The Germans had already sunk several cargo ships sailing from Mobile and Galveston, and the risk was increasing almost daily. Aaron would be in port for three weeks before returning to Valparaiso. He confessed to Fernando that after this next run, he was considering retiring. Meeting Rosa and the start of the war had given him a new perspective on his future, as well as on life in general. Fernando understood, saying that the world is now forever changed due to the war. Aaron's three weeks in port passed much too quickly. The relationship between Rosa and him had evolved into a wonderful combination of romance and friendship. His last evening prior to leaving was spent at the Suárez home. Pina and Rosa had prepared his favorite meal of lasagna and roast beef, along with devil crabs as an appetizer. That same afternoon, Luciano had arrived from Gainesville for a mid-semester break. The mood was split between happiness that Luciano was home and sadness at having to say goodbye to Aaron. As the two women were in the kitchen finalizing dinner, the three men sat in the living room, listening to soft music playing on the radio. Aaron explained to Luciano that, as he had already shared with Fernando, this might be his last sea voyage. He would be making his final decision on this next voyage. He added that he had shared this with no one other than Fernando. Luciano, somewhat surprised, understood and agreed not to divulge the information to anyone else. Continuing, Luciano confessed that his disappointment over Aaron's no longer piloting a ship was far exceeded by the happiness of perhaps having him in Tampa on a permanent basis. Aaron stood up, walked over to Luciano, and gave him a hug. As he was returning to his chair, Luciano suddenly spoke, his voice unusually soft. "I've signed up to join the Army Air Corp. I took the exams and have been accepted into pilot training as a lieutenant. I leave for San Antonio, Texas in June, after the school year ends. I don't want to tell Mama or Tía Rosa yet." Fernando and Aaron had been expecting this news. Since Christmas they had been well aware of Luciano's thoughts. However, the manner in which he blurted it out took them by surprise. Clearly, Luciano hadn't relished the thought of telling them. Fernando walked over to his son and hugged him tightly for several minutes. Aaron then did the same. "A comer!" Rosa had announced "Let's eat!". This was the standard way of calling everyone to the dinner table in the Suárez home. Fernando, Luciano, and Aaron were able to divert their thoughts away from their previous discussion, focusing on the feast before them. During dinner, Pina couldn't help but think how Rosa had changed since meeting Aaron. Once extremely shy, she now often initiated conversations at the table. She had even agreed to allow the Licatas to hire a live-in assistant to help care for Sebastiana and Gaetano. She had blossomed later in life. Luciano, his parents, and his Aunt Rosa stood on the wharf and watched as "The Phoenix" disappeared from view. Knowing that Aaron would return in a few weeks made the departure less sad. After lunch at Los Helados restaurant, Rosa was taken home and the Suarezes went home. Luciano and Fernando planned to tell Giuseppina about Luciano's joining the military. They would do it that evening, after dinner. As Pina was preparing dinner, Fernando was reading the newspaper in the living room. Luciano was studying upstairs in his bedroom. Fernando could hear music coming from Luciano's radio. The music suddenly stopped, and Fernando became aware of an announcement being made in English. Fernando was not able to quite understand what was being said. Luciano came running down the stairs. He was crying. "Papa, los alemanes han hundido el barco de Aaron!" Luciano, stifling his sobs, said that the Germans had sunk Aaron's ship. Luciano raced back up the stairs, Fernando behind him. As they entered Luciano's bedroom, Fernando closed the door behind him, so that Pina couldn't hear the radio, despite her limited English abilities. Fernando asked his son to translate since the announcer was speaking rapidly. As the broadcast continued, Luciano would periodically relay, in Spanish, a synopsis of what was being said. Apparently, some residents of Pinellas Point, a neighborhood in the southern part of St. Petersburg, heard an explosion and could see a ship on fire not far from the entrance to Tampa Bay. They alerted the police who called civil defense authorities. The coast guard was able to verify that the ship was, in fact, "The Phoenix", and had been torpedoed by a German U- boat approximately one mile out into the gulf. A search for survivors and bodies was underway, and survivors were being transported to Bay Pines Veterans Hospital in St. Petersburg. As Fernando heard the news, his face, along with Luciano's, turned ashen in color. This would not be the night to tell Pina about Luciano's decision. With a knot in his throat, Fernando rushed downstairs to deliver this devastating news to Pina. “Bedda Matri!” Pina screamed out as she clasped her hands over her face. She had called out to The Virgin Mary in agony. Literally translated to “Beautiful Mother!”, it is the quintessential Sicilian cry of agony and pleading for divine mercy. Fernando comforted her, fulling realizing that, in just several months, Aaron had become a beloved member of the family. “Tenemos que decir a Rosa, pero no por el teléfono! Vamos a la casa.” Pina said they had to tell Rosa, but suggested they drive to the Licata home rather than telling her over the phone. Fernando agreed. Luciano insisted on going as well. Within minutes they were in the car and headed toward Gary, where the Licata compound is located. Luciano sat in the front passenger seat, constantly monitoring the car radio for any updates on the tragedy. There were now conformed reports of survivors, but there were many fatalities. “Che c’è!” As soon as Rosa saw her sister’s face, she knew something was amiss. Her face turned suddenly pale, and she nervously blurted out the Sicilian phrase for “what’s wrong!”. As Pina broke the news to her, she let out a muffled cry, perhaps not wanting to alarm her parents. Her sister helped her to the couch in the living room. Fernando went upstairs to advise the caregiver what was going on and to check on Gaetano and Sebastiana. Luciano had remained in the car, monitoring the news. He was now standing with Fernando a short distance away from Pina and Rosa. He suggested to his father that they drive to the hospital in St. Petersburg to see if they could get more information. Fernando agreed, but suggested they call the civil defense authorities first. Perhaps someone could assist them. Luciano went into the kitchen to use the phone there, preferring to speak with them in private. After a few minutes, Luciano returned to the living room. Understandably, the civil defense officials were not able to discuss details over the phone. Their advice was to go to Bay Pines Veterans Hospital and speak with personnel there. Fernando reported this to the women, suggesting that they remain behind, fearing that the news at the hospital would be grim. Rosa vehemently objected. If the news was bad, she would rather hear sooner than later. She couldn’t stand the thought of waiting. Within minutes Luciano, Fernando, Pina, and Rosa were enroute to St. Petersburg. As they crossed Tampa Bay on the Gandy Bridge, Fernando’s thoughts drifted back twenty years prior, to the drive to the hospital after Luciano’s birth. Luckily, this time there was no hurricane to drive through. About 45 minutes later they entered St. Petersburg. Luciano, who was driving, stopped at a gas station to ask directions to the hospital. After a few more minutes they approached the vicinity of the hospital complex. Several blocks from the hospital a roadblock had been put in place. A police officer advised Luciano to turn around, as access to the hospital was being restricted. Luciano advised the officer that a “relative” was the captain of the ship and they, of course, were quite concerned. The policeman asked for the name. As he rustled through some papers on a clipboard, Luciano realized his heart was racing with anxiety. The officer looked up from the papers, addressing Luciano. “Could I have his name and hometown please?” Luciano, somewhat puzzled, answered. “Aaron Winchester, Amarillo, Texas.” The officer thanked Luciano and waved him through. Apparently, the authorities had obtained basic information on the crew from the shipping line. Only those relatives who could identify specific information about a crew member were being allowed access to the hospital. Luciano, while uncomfortable lying to the police, really did consider Aaron to be a relative. The hospital lobby was overflowing with people, a combination of military authorities, the press, and anxious relatives. A temporary information desk had been set up at the far end of the lobby. Luciano suggested that Pina and Rosa take seats while he and Fernando check with the desk. “The Phoenix” had been carrying a crew of approximately 50. Many of those were assigned from the local seafarers’ union in Tampa. Because of this, numerous local relatives were in line, hoping for more information concerning their loved ones. Luciano noticed that some people were asked to return to the seating area, while others were being escorted away. Occasionally, a nurse would page some of those seated, and lead them away. He found this ominous, fearing that those led away would be told that their relative was not one of the survivors. As they got closer to the front of the line the procedure became more clear. “Good afternoon sir. May I have your name and the name of your relative please?” Luciano anxiously gave the woman the information she requested. His heart was racing as she leafed through several sets of papers. As she out the papers down, she began speaking quite rapidly. “Mr. Suarez. At this time, we have no information concerning Captain Winchester. As rescue operations continue, information continues to come in quite frequently. Please have a seat and we will call you when we know more.” Fernando, quite anxious, turned to Luciano. “Que dice ella, que dice?” Fernando desperately asked Luciano to clarify what the nurse had said. Luciano thanked her and led his father away by his arm. As he guided him back toward Rosa and Pina, he explained what he had been told. This increased Fernando’s anxiety, rather than easing it. Pina and Rosa anxiously walked toward Luciano and Fernando, begging for information. As Luciano started to explain, Rosa began crying uncontrollably. After helping her back to her seat, the Tampeños began what seemed like an interminable wait. Rosa and Pina had their rosary beads and were quietly praying as they held them in their hands. “The family of Captain Winchester! The family of Captain Winchester!” After approximately 30 minutes, a nurse called for them. She asked the Tampeños to follow her a short distance down a hallway into a private room. She held the door open as they filed in, closing the door behind her. At this point, Luciano feared the worst. He could see the look of despair on his father’s face. Rosa and Pina wept. “Please. I have some relatively good news for you.” At this point, Luciano, somewhat relieved, asked if he could translate her words for his parents and aunt. She said that would be fine, and she would speak slowly, pausing to allow him to do so. He then explained to his family what had just been said. Rosa clasped her hands to her face in anticipation of positive news. The nurse continued. “We’re happy to report that Captain Winchester is alive. He has sustained injuries, including serious burns, but should survive. He will be here at Bay Pines Hospital for several weeks of treatment. Afterward, he will need a lengthy recovery period.” Luciano, breaking into a smile, translated this good news to his family. Rosa broke into sobs and hugged Pina. He turned to the nurse. “When will we be able to see Captain Winchester?” The nurse elaborated that Aaron was still being attended to in the emergency ward. She assured them that he was conscious and lucid, though in pain. He would be heavily sedated after a complete assessment of his injuries. She suggested they leave a contact telephone number. She would personally see to it that someone contact them early the next morning for an update. She assured them that he would ultimately make a full recovery. After translating this for the others, he gave the nurse the Suárez phone number and thanked her for her assistance. The nurse smiled, telling them they were welcome to remain in the room in order to regain their composure. As the nurse closed the door behind her, the Tampeños hugged each other tightly. After a few minutes they left the room, grateful beyond words that Aaron was alive. On the drive back to Tampa, Fernando realized that today had been the first of what would be many bad days during this war. He knew it was inevitable many families, including possibly his own, would be receiving the news that everyone dreaded. On this day in March 1942, World War II became very personal. Chapter Fifty-Seven Chapter Fifty-Eight Chapter Fifty-Nine Chapter Sixty Chapter Sixty-One Chapter Sixty-Two Aaron remained in Bay Pines Hospital for about two weeks. His main injuries were burns on his arms and legs. Of the approximately 50 crew members on “The Phoenix”, 22 had been killed in the attack. Survivors testified that Captain Winchester stayed on board until all of the survivors had abandoned ship, some in lifeboats. Aaron was regarded as a hero, having stayed with his ship until the end. The Licatas invited Aaron to recuperate in their home. The shipping company provided nurses to attend to the captain during his long recovery. The grim reality of the war was now close at hand, and the spirit of cooperation was evident. Rosa and Giuseppina decided they would dedicate this year’s Feast of St. Joseph celebration to thanking Sicily’s patron saint for sparing Aaron’s life. St. Joseph’s Day is celebrated on March 19. Many Sicilian families prepare a “St. Joseph’s Table”, or “Tavola di San Giuseppe”. Resembling a shrine, a statue of St. Joseph is surrounded by flowers and mounds of many types of food. Two constants are no meat other than fish, and numerous loaves of bread ladened with copious amounts of sesame seeds. The breads are in various shapes relevant to the celebration, such as a cross or a shepherd’s staff. The celebration is, in essence, an “open house” where no one is ever turned away. Some celebrations are dedicated to healing the sick, or giving thanks for sparing one’s life. Charitable donations are accepted, but not obligatory. The Licatas would be forwarding donations to a relief fund established by the local seafarers’ union to assist the families of those who perished in the sinking of “The Phoenix”. The Licata celebration was held on the Sunday closest to March 19. Hundreds of guests attended and thousands of dollars were donated to the relief fund. The war news continued to be grim. The U.S. and its allies were sustaini’g heavy casualties. By April, many of the young men throughout the country had been drafted. Ybor City and West Tampa were no exception. Several businesses in the Latin neighborhoods had posters with photographs of the local “boys” who had been called away. Fernando knew that he would soon have to tell Giuseppina that Luciano had enlisted in the military. By late May, Aaron was almost back to normal. His burns were healing well, aided by several skin grafts. His convalescence in the Licata home had further strengthened his relationship with Rosa. The traditional Sunday afternoon lunches, which normally alternated between the Suarezes and the Licatas, were being held every week at the Licata farm. This was due to Aaron’s limited mobility. This particular spring Sunday afternoon was sunny and beautiful. Fernando and Pina took their places at one of the two large tables in the Licata garden. Fernando was a bit on edge since he had decided to tell Pina about Luciano on the drive home from the lunch. He turned to his wife. “Pina, algo parece un poco diferente. Ellos están muy ilusionados de algo. Que podría ser?” Fernando, nodding discretely toward Rosa and Aaron, told Pina that something seemed a bit different. He found Aaron and Rosa to be very excited, almost manic, about something and wondered what it could be. As they were beginning to eat, the sound of a spoon tapping on a glass drew the diners’ attention toward Aaron. The captain, now standing and holding up a glass of wine, began to speak. “Ladies and gentlemen. I have an announcement to make. I asked Mr. Gaetano Licata for his permission to ask his beautiful daughter Rosa to marry me. He did so, and I am honored and humbled to say that Rosa has accepted my offer. I want to thank all of you for your love and for accepting me into your family. I would now ask those who understand English to please make the appropriate translations for those around you!” After a brief period of frenzied translations, everyone began clapping and shouting out with joy. Fernando and Pina rushed over to Aaron and Rosa. Hugs and kisses made the rounds of the whole family. Pina hugged Fernando, who now feared that telling her about Luciano would dampen her euphoria over this news. The Sunday lunch ended later than usual. On the drive home Pina was excitedly talking about the wedding plans. Though an exact date had not been chosen, she suspected it would be soon. Aaron was resigning from his career and relished the idea of a permanent home in Tampa. Pina was still talking as they entered their house. Fernando took Pina by the arm, guiding her toward the sofa, where she sat down. “Pina, tenemos que hablar de algo.” Fernando told Pina that they needed to talk about something. He then simply blurted out what he had to say, explaining that Luciano had enlisted in the Army Air Corp and would be training to be a pilot. He added that their son would be home from school the following week, and would report to San Antonio, Texas on July 1st. They would have him home for about one month before he left for training. Pina looked away from Fernando, tears filling her eyes as she began crying softly. Regaining her composure, she admitted to Fernando that she had assumed this was imminent. She then surprised Fernando by saying she had come to terms with Luciano having to serve in the military. The episode with Aaron made her realize the extreme danger the entire world was facing. She had put her faith in God, knowing that everyone needed to sacrifice for the greater good. Fernando hugged Pina, reassuring her that all would be fine. She looked at Fernando. “Quizás, quizás no. Solo Dios sabe.” Pina replied: “Maybe, maybe not. Only God knows.” Luciano embraced Fernando, thanking him for having told his mother about his joining the military. Luciano asked to drive home from Union Station. As he drove, he pretended he was at the controls of an airplane, tooting the horn as they proceeded up 15th St. Fernando managed to share in the frivolity, despite his hesitancy at celebrating what he viewed as a serious situation. Fernando reminded himself of the feelings of invincibility that accompanies being young. Giuseppina rushed onto the front porch, hugging and kissing Luciano until they both broke up laughing. Fernando, while relieved at her composure, wondered if it was an exaggerated way of masking her deepest fears. After a hearty dinner, Luciano asked to see Aaron. Fernando had called Luciano several times per week to update him on Aaron’s situation, but Luciano wanted to see him with his own eyes. Aaron was barely conscious when he last saw him, two days after the attack. Luciano was anxious to erase this image from his mind. “Luciano! How about a big hug for your new uncle!” Aaron, his voice back to normal, walked over and hugged Luciano tightly. Luciano pulled away, smiling. “UNCLE? Does this mean what I think it does?” Aaron had asked that they not tell Luciano about the marriage, wanting to tell him in person. Aaron nodded his head in the affirmative. Luciano hugged and kissed Rosa, who was standing next to Aaron. “Luciano, we don’t want to rush things. However, since you will be leaving us on July 1st, we are getting married the Sunday prior, which will be June 28th. We couldn’t bear the thought of a wedding without you being present. Please translate to the others.” Fernando, Pina, and the rest of the family celebrated this news. Rather than a large affair, the family and a few other guests would gather at O.L.P.H. church for a religious ceremony. Afterward, they would retreat to the Licata home for an expanded version of the usual family Sunday lunch. Rosa had insisted that the celebration also serve as a farewell dinner for Luciano. The next several weeks passed much too quickly. Pina and Rosa focused on the wedding preparations, which also served as a distraction from Luciano’s imminent departure. Luciano visited friends, spending most of his days with Rafael, Ignacio’s son. Rafael had received his draft notice and was to depart soon for basic training in Ft. Benning, Georgia as an infantryman. A week before the wedding, the Prendes family hosted a farewell party for Rafael and Luciano at the dairy. The Prendes' house and barn were festooned with small U.S. and Spanish Republican flags. Many within the Spanish community of Tampa saw World War II as a continuation of the fight against Franco and the fascists in Spain. Though Spain had formally remained neutral, there was outrage that German U-boats were given access to Spanish ports for refueling and repairs. In essence, Spain was a “silent” ally of Germany and Italy. Several days after the party at the Prendeses, Rafael left for Ft. Benning. The Suarezes joined the Prendes family at Tampa’s Union Station. Two additional train cars had been added to accommodate the large number of recruits. Sofia managed to remain stoic until the last train car disappeared from view. As she began to openly sob, Giuseppina attempted to comfort her. As the two women embraced, Pina soon joined Sofia in her outpouring of grief. Ignacio and Sofia, along with Giuseppina, Fernando, and Luciano walked silently out of Union Station. The grim reality of this war continued to draw closer and closer to the Tampeños. Father Amorelli and Father Braun agreed to be co-celebrants in Rosa's Nuptial Mass. Both priests had served for many years at Ybor City's O.L.P.H. Catholic Church. Father Braun, unlike Father Amorelli, was fluent in English. Though the Mass was primarily in Latin, Father Braun was to translate the homily into English. Rosa had requested this out of repsect for Aaron, though the captain was not a religious man. The Licata family and invited friends were enough to fill almost half of the relatively small church. The ceremony lasted somewhat more than an hour. The wedding party was small, with only Giuseppina as matron of honor and Fernando as best man. The buffet lunch afterward at the Licata farm consisted of about 150 people, a small reception by Sicilian standards. Tradition mandated that if a woman married at an "older" age, the festivities should appropriately be scaled down. As the festivities were drawing to a close, Fernando and Aaron were seated together, enjoying coffee and traditional Sicilian desserts. Aaron turned toward Fernando. "Fernando, I want to thank you for all you've done for me. When I first met you at the hotel in Vigo, never did I dream that I would one day be part of your beautiful family. I didn't plan on retiring under these circumstances, but something good has come out of a bad situation. I'm not a religious man, but I pray, in my own way, that Luciano and Ignacio get through this war OK. They're both like nephews to me." Fernando, understanding the gist of what Aaron said, reached over and gave Aaron a strong hug. Aaron went on to explain that Gaetano and Sebastiana had invited Giuseppina and him to continue living with them. After discussing it, they decided to take them up on their offer. Aaron confessed he had been somewhat hesitant, concerned that Rosa would prefer asserting more independence. Rosa, likewise, was concerned that Aaron would feel obligated to help care for her aging parents. Assisted by Turiddu's translations, their frank discussion was fruitful. They learned that they both preferred being part of the extended family. Assisted by hired help, as well as other family members, they looked forward to being the primary care givers for the elderly Licatas in the coming years. Fernando assured him that he and Pina would always be willing to assist as well. Fernando, Giuseppina, and Luciano were the last to leave the wedding reception. On the drive home, Giuseppina's thoughts were focused on Luciano's departure, now only three days away. She had managed to distract herself preparing for Rosa's wedding, but now the harsh reality was close at hand. She found herself in the "bargaining" process so traditionally embedded in Sicilian Catholicism. In exchange for the future safe return of her son from the war, she was willing to sacrifice some of her favorite pleasures in life. Almost obsessively, her mind was spinning as she tried to decide which sacrifices might most ensure Luciano's safe return. Her thoughts returned to the moment as Fernando turned into their driveway in El Barrio Candamo. Wednesday, July 1st, 1942 was a rainy and stormy day in Tampa. The summer tropical weather pattern was clearly in place. As Luciano drove over the Brorein St. bridge and turned left onto Bayshore Blvd. it began raining heavily. Fernando, sitting next to his son, attempted to clear the windshield of the condensation moisture created by their breath. As the accompanying thunder and lightning increased, Giuseppina, sitting in the back seat with Rosa and Aaron, nervously wondered out loud why Luciano was being flown to San Antonio, as opposed to going by train. Her son tried to reassure her, saying that they would never allow the aircraft to take off if it wasn't safe. His attempt failed. She continued to nervously finger her rosary beads. As they drove past the turnoff for Davis Islands, she reminisced about their adventure six years prior. She desperately wished they were headed for Peter O. Knight airport for a flight to Havana. Instead, their destination was MacDill Field, now a U.S. Army Air Forces base. As they proceeded down Bayshore Blvd., a streetcar of the Ballast Point line was to their left, running parallel with them. The tracks were in the middle of the raised median which was attractively landscaped. Pina placed her hand on Fernando's shoulder. "Fernando, recuerda cuando íbamos a bailar allí en Ballast Point? Tomamos ese mismo tranvía desde Ybor. Eso fue cuando empezamos a salir como una pareja. La pobre Rosa, siempre tenía que estar con nosotros, como chaperona." Giuseppina reminded Fernando how, when they first started dating, they would take this same streetcar to attend dances. She chuckled as she remembered how poor Rosa would be required to accompany them as a chaperone. Rosa assured her that it had been fun. At the end of Bayshore Blvd, Ballast Point Park was a popular destination for people in Tampa. A large pavilion built over the water had been a popular dancehall for many years. Fernando squeezed Pina's hand, turning to her and smiling. As they approached the entrance to MacDill Field, Luciano gathered the documents he had been given, along with his passport as identification. As they had been previously instructed, Fernando, Giuseppina, and Aaron had brought their passports along as well. Rosa had her alien registration card with her, which now included a photograph. Security precautions had become especially strict since the German U-boat attack on Aaron's ship, only four months prior. MacDill field was situated on the "Interbay Peninsula" of South Tampa. The waters of Tampa Bay surrounded the airfield on three sides. The threat of an attack launched from a submarine was always a possibility. After examining the Suarez' documents, the guard gave Luciano a map, directing him to the correct administrative building. The excited recruit chuckled to himself, wondering if perhaps this was his first examination, testing his map reading abilities! Within ten minutes they had arrived at the designated building. Entering the facility, Luciano handed his documents to a receptionist. Soon a recruiting officer appeared, welcoming them. He explained that there would be a brief induction ceremony for the six recruits, then refreshments and time for goodbyes. An aircraft had been dispatched to several points in Florida to collect other pilot trainees, including Tallahassee, Jacksonville, and Miami. Tampa was the last stop, and the flight would be non-stop from here to San Antonio. The other trainees, like Luciano, were college students who had demonstrated academic excellence and passed the pilot training written exam. As Luciano was translating what was being explained to him, an officer who had been standing nearby approached the group of Tampeños. He asked what languages they were speaking. Luciano explained the background of his family. The officer, smiling, responded. "I would like your family to understand what we'll be saying. I know who can help you out. One of the civilian women that works here in our payroll department speaks fluent Spanish and Sicilian. I think she's from Tampa. Her name is Mamie. I'll go get her!" Luciano was explaining what the officer had said when a beautiful young woman approached them, talking excitedly. In classic Tampa Sicilian she introduced herself as Mamie Mortellaro from Ybor City. As is typical in Tampa, within minutes the group had "connected the dots". Her mother was Rosalia Mortellaro, and Giuseppina had worked with her for a few years at the Sanchez y Haya cigar factory. The women hugged and kissed, as they continued to further connect the dots and introduce everyone. Aaron, smiling, shook his head in disbelief as the officer excused himself to prepare for the ceremony. Aaron turned to Luciano, who was also smiling. "Son, Tampa never ceases to amaze me! It's not a small city by any means. Yet, everyone seems to know each other, or they know each other's parents. Tampa is the smallest big city I've ever seen. It's not the place to be if you value your privacy, but I sure do love it!" The officer in charge announced that the ceremony was about to begin. He asked that everyone take their seats. Mamie gestured to Luciano's group to sit with her in the back row, away from the others. She would, in a loud whisper, explain what was happening in both Spanish and Sicilian. After a brief welcome, the six young men were asked to stand at the front of the room. With their right hands raised, they swore allegiance to the U.S.A., promising to defend their nation against all enemies. As this was translated by Mamie, Pina and Rosa began to cry softly. Mamie did her best to comfort them. As the ceremony came to a conclusion, each recruit was introduced to the audience. The Tampeños clapped loudly as 2nd Lieutenant Luciano Suarez stepped forward and saluted his superior officer. The attendees were led into an adjoining room for refreshments. Mamie was allowed to accompany them. As a Tampa native, Mamie had become the unofficial ambassador from MacDill Field to its host community. It was Mamie who everyone at the airfield depended upon for any advice concerning Tampa. Less than an hour later, an announcement was made. The guests were asked to accompany their recruit onto an adjacent tarmac for a final farewell. Luciano, with his duffel bag slung over his shoulder, began hugging and kissing his family, including Aaron. He thanked Mamie for her help, giving her a hug as well. Lastly, he again hugged Giuseppina for what seemed an eternity. Rosa, overcome with emotion, had turned her face and stepped away, accompanied by Aaron, who was embracing her. Fernando gently drew Pina away from her son and put his arms around her. As Luciano got to the door of the DC-3 aircraft, he turned and gave a final wave and a "thumbs up" gesture. Within minutes the two engines revved up and the aircraft began taxiing toward the departure runway. The rain and dark clouds had cleared from the skies. As the silver airplane rose from the ground, it seemed to glisten in the sunshine as it turned westward toward Texas. The months following the departure of Rafael and Luciano seemed to pass mercifully fast. Their families agreed that the faster the days passed the better, putting the end of the war that much closer. Fernando and Ignacio had volunteered to assist in the sale of war bonds in Ybor City and West Tampa. The food distribution and dairy businesses provided a convenient and efficient method of reaching out to the greater community. The commercial customers of both companies, such as grocery stores and restaurants, were happy to serve as vendors for the bonds so critical to funding the war effort. Fernando would accompany the salesmen on their routes, dispersing bonds and collecting the funds to be forwarded to the federal authorities. His experience as an accountant served him well. Ignacio would hold periodic rallies at the dairy farm, providing food and entertainment while promoting the sale of bonds. The men were motivated by love of country as well as wanting to end this war as soon as possible, hastening the return of their sons. The immigrant community in Tampa had proudly earned the reputation of staunchly supporting the war effort. "Prens!" Rafael had learned to easily recognize the anglicized pronunciation of his surname. He stepped forward and collected his weekly mail. Today there were several letters and a sealed shoe box wrapped in brown paper. Sofia wrote a letter to her son every day and would occasionally send a box containing Spanish cookies or dried chorizo. His legal name was Rafael Gonzalez Prendes. In Tampa, the Spanish tradition of two surnames had caused confusion in properly identifying one's legal name. Therefore, the children of Spanish immigrants were legally named with their mother's maiden name as a middle name, followed by the paternal surname as their legal "American" surname. Rafael had excelled during basic training as an infantryman. His athletic prowess had earned him a position in the elite U.S. Army Rangers. While in training as a Ranger, Rafael's superiors recommended him for Officer Training School. Upon graduation he would be a lieutenant and an instructor in the Ranger school at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Not only were Ignacio and Sofia proud of his accomplishments, but grateful that, at least for now, Rafael would be kept stateside and away from active combat. Luciano had taken to flying as a fish would to water. Eleven weeks after beginning his training, he completed his first solo flight. The most coveted positions among the eager and confident young men were fighter positions. These were awarded to the top students. Though Luciano had finished his training in the top five percent of his class, he could not qualify for a fighter position due to his large size. The height limit for fighter pilots was set at 5'11", several inches shorter than Luciano's height. This was due to the limited amount of space in a fighter's cockpit. While disappointed, the Tampeño was grateful for the opportunity to fly and to serve his country. "Compras tus bonos de guerra aquí! Apoya tu país!" "Compra qui i tuoi titoli di guerra! Sostiete il vostro paese!" "Buy your War Bonds here! Support your country!" Above the din of the heavy streetcar and automobile traffic, the voices of the Suarezes and the Prendeses attracted the attention of those around them. In Spanish, Italian, and English they proudly and enthusiastically pleaded with their fellow Tampeños to support the war effort by purchasing U.S. war bonds. The corner of 7th Ave. and 22nd St. had always been a busy intersection. Although located toward the end of the most densely populated part of Ybor City, the very popular Columbia Restaurant was located here. Additionally, this was where several major streetcar lines intersected. Thus it was a major transfer point for passengers. Most importantly, the busy 7th Ave. streetcar line turned south on 22nd St. to serve a major portion of Palmetto Beach and the Port of Tampa. Because of the war, the various industries located in this area, such as the large McCloskey Ship Builders, were operating twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week. The result was that workers from all parts of Tampa would transfer here. The cafe at the Columbia Restaurant was open 24 hours a day and was always busy. Every Friday evening Giuseppina and Fernando, along with Ignacio and Sofia, would sell war bonds near the entrance of the Columbia. The Hernandez family, owners of the restaurant, generously supported their efforts by allowing them to use the restaurant as a makeshift "office". Sales were usually brisk, as Fridays were the days most of the workers got paid. As funds were collected, they would be transferred to the safe in the Columbia's office. Without exception, the businesses along La Septima were doing their part in the war effort. At 7 p.m. the volunteers would stop selling bonds and retreat to "L'Unione Italiana", the Italian Club for coffee and sandwiches. On Friday evenings, the club's "casino" area, normally off-limits to women, was converted to a cafe, available to all. The proceeds collected would be used to purchase war bonds. The Tampeños looked forward to this Friday ritual. "Oye, como hay gente hoy. Que bueno que la comunidad apoya tanto el esfuerzo para la guerra. Cada peso ganado quizás puede cortar el tiempo de la guerra por unos minutos, quien sabe?" Ignacio commented on how many people were at the club tonight and how good it was that the community was supporting the war effort. He went on to say that perhaps every dollar raised would shorten the war by a few minutes. It was clear that the war and what it would mean for their sons was constantly on the minds of the two families. As the waiter was clearing the table, he asked if they wanted desserts. Fernando and Ignacio ordered flan and cannoli, while Sofia and Pina declined. Fernando, glancing at Ignacio, raised his eyebrows. It was an affirmation of what they had suspected for some time. Pina and Sofia were notorious for their love of flan and cannoli, two popular desserts in Spanish and Sicilian cuisines. Since Luciano and Rafael had joined the military, neither of them had eaten these two foods. Their husbands were certain that they had promised God they would sacrifice this indulgence in exchange for the safe return of their sons. The concept of "bargaining" in the Spanish and Sicilian Catholic faith ran deep within the culture, especially among women. This was true even for those who did not regularly participate in Catholic ritual nor strictly adhered to Catholic doctrine. The practice had become engrained in the secular aspects of the cultures as well. As the Tampeños were sipping their espresso coffees, a disturbance broke out several tables away from them. Two men, dressed in suits, approached a group of six people. Talking specifically to one of the men seated, they displayed what appeared to be badges. After a few minutes, they escorted the confused and elderly man out of the Italian Club. The remainder of the party immediately got up from their seats and quickly left the building as well. The room became almost silent, the only sound being that of whispers of curiosity. "Hombre, que pasó allí? Esos hombres parecían como oficiales, verdad?" Fernando wondered out loud about what might have just happened. He commented that the two well-dressed men appeared to be officers of some type. Pina had noticed that the woman who had helped them at MacDill Field, Mamie Mortellaro, was seated on the far side of the room with her family. She thought if anyone would know about the episode, Mamie would. Pina excused herself and walked over to the Mortellaro table. After approximately ten minutes, Pina returned and sat down. She explained that the elderly man who was removed from the building is Giuseppe Sardegna, known as "Peppino". He was a bit eccentric, now living alone east of Ybor City on a small prickly pear farm. He frequently visited the Italian Club casino to play cards and dominoes with his friends. Apparently, several days earlier he had been heard commenting that, in his opinion, Benito Mussolini had brought some good changes to Italy. Being in his mid-80s, Peppino is of an age where he remembers Italy as a chaotic collection of independent kingdoms, prior to its unification in 1867. During a casual political discussion among friends he had commented that the current Fascist dictator was the kind of leader that Italians needed, someone strong and ruthless. Apparently, someone who had overheard his comments had contacted the F.B.I. and reported him. Fernando, Pina, Ignacio, and Sofia quietly finished their espressos. Still silent, they paid their dinner bill and left L'Unione Italiana. The war continued to affect them and their community in ways they had never imagined. “Pina, mira que salió en ‘La Gaceta’! Este artículo habla del señor que fue arrestado en el Centro Italiano. Bueno, ahora que leo más, no lo arrestaron pero le dieron una advertencia escrita, y quitaron su radio y sus escopetas hasta que termina la guerra. Parece que querían usarlo como un ejemplo de que están vigilándonos.” Fernando, reading “La Gaceta” newspaper, told Giuseppina there was an article about Giusseppe “Peppino” Sardegna, the elderly man who was escorted out of the Italian Club a week prior. The F.B.I. had received a report that he had been making positive comments about the Italian Fascist leader, Benito Mussolini. While he had been detained, he was not arrested, but was given a written warning. Additionally, his shotguns and radio were confiscated for the duration of the war. Apparently, he had been used as an example to send a message to the community that the government was actively monitoring the populace for possible espionage. “Es bueno que hacen eso. Todos tenemos que hacer todo posible para proteger nuestro país, y nuestros hijos. Somos Americanos.” Pina responded it was a good thing that the government was doing. She explained that, as Americans, we all needed to do what was necessary to protect our country and our sons. Fernando agreed, leaning over and kissing her forehead. They both felt that nothing before had made them feel so “American” as this war. Many of their friends and family members had expressed the same sentiments. The distance between Tampa and their native countries had never seemed longer. Europe was fast becoming a distant memory for many immigrants in Tampa and across the U.S.A. It was now almost six months since Luciano and Rafael left Tampa for the military.Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day were celebrated relatively quietly. The absence of many family members, along with food rationing, resulted in a rather somber holiday season for many families across the country. The Suarez, Licata, and Prendes families had bonded more tightly than ever, forming a network of mutual support during these harrowing times. In early March 1943, a letter arrived from Luciano to his parents. Luciano, though very busy, managed to write to his parents at least twice per week, sometimes more often. Several months earlier he had been assigned to fly the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft and was now based at Maxwell Army Air Forces Base near Montgomery, Alabama. The aircraft was a four-engine heavy bomber designed for saturation bombing from high altitudes. As part of his training, he would, in two weeks, be flying into Tampa’s Drew Field, located immediately adjacent to the Prendes dairy farm, in the far northwest part of West Tampa. Luciano would be spending approximately one week at Drew Field for additional specialized training. Fernando and Pina cried as Fernando read the letter out loud. They had not seen their son for more than eight months, the longest period of separation between them. Luciano would be arriving in one week and would have some free time during the evenings of his stay. After hearing the news, Pina literally ran to the phone and called Rosa. Fernando understood enough Sicilian to know that the two sisters were excitedly discussing the dinner arrangements for each day of Luciano’s visit. Giuseppina, always apprehensive about flying, was grateful that the sky was sunny and cloudless. She and Fernando were told that Luciano would be landing at approximately 6:00 p.m. As Pina had anticipated, Fernando was ready to leave for Drew Field at 4:20p.m., even though it was only a 20-minute drive to the base. Luciano had that evening free, having to return to the base by midnight. Rosa had arranged for a large family dinner at the Licata home. Pina and Fernando felt somewhat conflicted about inviting the Prendeses, concerned that seeing Luciano would be a harsh reminder of their own son’s absence. To their relief, their dearest friends resolved the dilemma for them. Ignacio and Sofia had asked if they could go along to see Luciano land the aircraft, wanting to share in the excitement and welcome him home. Fernando told Ignacio that he didn’t think that would be possible since Luciano had been told that each airman was allowed only two on- base visitors. Ignacio, with a chuckle, told Fernando that Anselmo, their eldest son, would contact the base commander and try to arrange it. Fernando, thinking that Ignacio was joking, was surprised when Ignacio called him back and said they had gotten permission to join them. Apparently, Ignacio had gotten to know the base commander due to a serious, yet somewhat comical, situation. The Prendes dairy’s pastures abutted the perimeter of the eastern border of the air base. The flight path was such that aircraft taking off and landing passed directly over the pastures. The result was that the loud sound of the aircraft engines startled the cows and milk production had decreased substantially. Wanting to maintain good relations with the surrounding community, the commander had arranged for the government to compensate Ignacio for his loss. As a result of the process, the commander, who had been raised on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, became well acquainted with Ignacio and his family. The commander had become a frequent visitor and dinner guest at the Prendes home. Although the base entrance was an easy walking distance from the Prendes home, the Base Operations Center was located on the far side of the complex. They would meet Ignacio and Sofia at their home and then drive into the base and to the Operations Center. Afterward, they would all drive to the Licata farm for dinner. After dinner, they would drive the Prendes home and drop Luciano off at the base. As Fernando drove across the Columbus Dr. bridge, Pina reminisced about how frequently they’ve crossed the bridge enroute to visit the Prendeses and how close their families were, particularly Luciano and Rafael. She reminded herself to never again eat flan or cannoli. By shortly after 5:00 p.m. the four Tampeños were at the main entrance to Drew Field. The base entrance was at the northern end of Dale Mabry Highway. This newly constructed major highway replaced the much smaller Vera Ave. and was built to connect MacDill Field with Drew Field. After showing the proper photo identification, the guard gave Fernando directions to the operations center. The visitors were surprised at how busy the base was. The operations center resembled a small airport terminal, with aircraft arriving or departing every few minutes. Fernando approached an airman seated at a desk. In broken English, he explained why they were there, showing him a copy of their gate pass, which had Luciano’s name on it. Checking a clip board hanging on the wall behind him, the man politely explained that Luciano would be landing shortly. He then led them outside and to a tarmac a short distance away. Fernando thanked him and the man returned to the office. Across a low chain-link fence, aircraft were arriving. After the crew and any passengers deplaned, a ground crew would then tow the aircraft away. After approximately 20 minutes, a large aircraft stopped directly in front of, and fairly close to, the Tampeños. As the engines came to a stop, a small window in the cockpit was opened, and a man’s face emerged through the window. The man, looking directly at the Tampeños, yelled out. “Tengo hambre!! Que hay para comer??” A collective cry of joy from the Tampeños startled those standing near them. The man was Luciano who had, in his usual booming voice, declared his hunger, and asked what was for dinner! Within a few minutes, Luciano had exited the airplane, run across the short tarmac, jumped over the fence, and was hugging and kissing Pina. This was followed by hugs and kisses for the others as well. After managing to calm his family down, Luciano explained he needed to report to the operations office for routine paperwork and would rejoin them in a few minutes. They followed him into the waiting area of the operations office. As they were taking their seats, Luciano turned toward them. “Mama, Papa. Tengo un buen amigo que es parte de la tripulación mía. Puedo invitarlo a comer con nosotros?” Luciano had asked his parents if he could invite a good friend and fellow crew member to eat with them. Pina enthusiastically told him that of course he could! She explained that they were eating at Aunt Rosa’s and she always made more than enough food. Luciano went into the office to complete his paperwork. After a few minutes, he returned, carrying his duffel bag. As the Tampeños rose from their seats, Fernando asked where his friend was. Luciano yelled out toward the office. “Ralphie, let’s go!” A man raced out of the office and, approaching the Prendeses from behind, placed his hands over Sofia’s and Ignacio’s eyes. At the same time, Pina let out a scream that startled everyone in the office. “Hay suficiente comida para otro Tampeño?” When the Prendeses turned around, the screams of joy became even louder. Luciano’s friend “Ralphie” was none other than Rafael Prendes, and he asked if there was enough food for another Tampeño. Sofia and Ignacio threw themselves into their son’s arms. Sofia and Pina were sobbing uncontrollably. Luciano, laughing uncontrollably, herded the group of celebrants outside, wanting to spare the others in the operations office from this joyous chaos. Anxious to leave the base and make the most of his leave time, Luciano continued his herding all the way to the car, promising a detailed explanation once they were on the road. With Luciano driving, his parents seated next to him, and the three Prendeses seated in the back, the car headed east on Tampa Bay Blvd., toward Gary and a warm Tampeño welcome. "Por favor! Déjame explicar lo que ha pasado!" Luciano implored the excited and almost manic Tampeños to please settle down so that he might explain Rafael's presence. They complied with his wishes. Luciano explained, with Rafael's help, that they had kept in frequent contact throughout each of their training periods. Good fortune intervened when Luciano was transferred to the Maxwell base for B-17 flight training. Located just outside of Montgomery, Alabama, the base was only a two-hour drive from Ft. Benning, which is adjacent to Columbus, Georgia. They had managed to occasionally visit each other whenever possible for the past several months. Fortunately, Rafael was able to arrange a leave that coincided with Luciano's week of training at Drew Field. Luciano was able to get permission for Rafael to hop a ride on his airplane to Tampa, and they decided to surprise their families. As Luciano was approaching Tampa, he had radioed the Drew Field Operations Center and they enthusiastically agreed to assist in their ruse. A good laugh was shared by all. "Dios mío! Quien tenemos aquí?" Rosa, in her somewhat broken Spanish, was overcome with emotion and surprise. She and Aaron had rushed over to hug Luciano, initially oblivious to Rafael's presence. When Rafael stepped into the Licata house from the front porch, she exclaimed "My God! Who have we here?" A frenzied explanation of the surprise was offered as she and Aaron embraced and kissed Rafael. This was followed by an almost infinite round of hugging and kissing from the many other relatives who had gathered for this most special dinner. Many of those in attendance commented that Luciano and Rafael had left Tampa as boys, only to return as men. Luciano's week of training was passing much too quickly for the Tampeños. They had established a routine which maximized the precious time they had left. Rafael, on leave, stayed with his family on the dairy. Luciano was usually free by late afternoon. Every evening a large dinner with various friends and relatives was arranged at either the Prendes or Suárez homes. Luciano was allowed a leave from duty on his last two days in Tampa, which fell on a weekend. On the Friday prior to Luciano's and Rafael's departure, the two men, along with their parents, gathered for an intimate dinner at the Prendes home. As the six Tampeños began eating, Rafael addressed the group. "Luciano y yo tenemos algo que decir. En un mes, más o menos, nos van a mandar fuera del país. La verdad es que no sabemos adonde, pero sabemos que va ser afuera de los Estados Unidos. Además de eso no sabemos nada hasta el último minuto. Y hasta que nos dan permiso, no podemos escribiros." Rafael had informed his and Luciano's parents that in about a month or so they were both being deployed outside of the United States. They themselves probably wouldn't know where until the very last minute. He added that once deployed, they could not write to them until given permission. It was impossible to know how long that might be. This announcement was initially met with silence, followed by Sofia and Pina weeping softly. Fernando and Ignacio comforted their wives. Luciano and Rafael followed with failed attempts at reassuring their parents that they would certainly be fine. They all knew no such guarantee could be given. Luciano was scheduled to fly his plane back to Maxwell on Sunday, in the late afternoon. Due to heightened security, it would not be possible for visitors to accompany Rafael and him onto the base. The two families organized a large potluck lunch for midday Sunday. It was an opportunity for the many friends and relatives to see Luciano and Rafael, and to wish them well. At around 3:30 p.m. Rafael and Luciano said their goodbyes. Their parents escorted them on the short walk to the main entrance gate of Drew Field. Sofia and Pina each had one of their arms around their son's waist. As they got to the gate, Luciano told them that they would be taking off to the east, meaning they would fly directly over the Prendes pastures. This would happen in approximately an hour, and he promised that they would be able to recognize his airplane. Fernando wondered aloud how this would be possible. Luciano assured him that it would be. After lastly embracing each of their mothers, the two men turned and walked quickly to the guard shack, showed their papers, and disappeared from view. The two couples comforted each other. Returning to the Prendes' home, the hosts gathered the remaining guests and ushered them outside and onto the pastures. Less than hour later, numerous aircraft began flying over their heads as they took off into the easterly winds. Still doubting Luciano's assurances, they waved at each airplane, thereby guaranteeing they would send their "boys" a personal goodbye. After a longer than usual pause between the aircraft departures, the Tampeños began walking back toward the house, assuming that the entire squadron had already taken off. Suddenly an unusually loud sound of aircraft engines caught their attention. Looking upward toward the source of the sound, they saw a B-17 at an unusually low altitude. As it passed over and beyond them it banked to the left and quickly completed a circular turn back toward them. As it passed overhead a second time, the plane dipped its wings several times in rapid succession and then began to quickly gain altitude. The Tampeños began jumping up and down, shouting out their love and good wishes for Rafael and Luciano. They knew this last airplane was Luciano's. Three weeks later, Sofia told Pina that letters from Rafael were no longer arriving. Two weeks after that, Pina and Fernando stopped hearing from Luciano. Though this was expected, the silence and lack of information was more stressful for the families than they had anticipated. Several months passed, still with no word from or about Luciano and Rafael. While militarily the war was turning slightly in favor of the allies, the price paid was rapidly increasing American casualties. On the home front, the shortage of able-bodied young men and women resulted in a labor shortage. Ignacio's dairy business had benefited from a lucrative contract with the military to supply milk and milk products to several military installations in the Tampa area. In the spring of1943, the U.S. had sent troops to assist Britain in the battle against the Germans and Italians in North Africa, the first American ground troop deployment outside of Asia. As a result of this, the U.S. was now receiving prisoners of war (POWs) to be housed on various bases throughout the eastern part of the country. This included Tampa's Drew Field. Considered to be of minimum risk, many of the POWs were used to bolster the labor supply. POWs considered particularly "low risk" were allowed to receive day passes, allowing them to work off-base in varying capacities. Ignacio was able to secure the use of an Italian POW named Antonio Antinori, also known as "Nino". He was a native of Catania, Sicily. Prior to accepting Nino as a day worker, Ignacio had contacted Fernando, asking him if he thought Pina would be willing to act as a translator, explaining to Nino exactly what his duties would be. Fernando, somewhat hesitatingly, agreed. He anticipated that his wife would be opposed to any contact with "the enemy". "Pina, Ignacio necesita un favor de ti. Hay un prisionero de guerra, un siciliano, que puede ayudar a Ignacio y Anselmo en le lechería. El problema es que nadie en la lechería habla siciliano. Crees que podrías ayudarle como traductora? Ignacio dice que él entendería si no te sientas cómoda hablando con el enemigo." Fernando explained Ignacio's request to Giuseppina, telling her that Ignacio would understand if she felt uncomfortable talking to the enemy. Pina's response both intrigued and pleased him. "Como no, Fernando. Sería un placer. Los dolores y las pérdidas de esta guerra son iguales para madres en todos sitios. No tiene nada que ver con nacionalidades ni fronteras. Quiero creer que si Luciano o Rafael estuviera en una situación parecida, alguna madre alemana, italiana, o japonesa hiciera lo mismo para ellos." Pina responded that she would be glad to help Ignacio with the translation. She said that the pain and losses of this war were the same for mothers everywhere and they had nothing to do with nationalities or borders. She told Fernando that she would like to think that if Luciano or Rafael were in a similar situation, some German, Italian, or Japanese mother would do the same for them. Fernando reached over to Pina and kissed her on both cheeks. He had a new appreciation of Pina's devout Christian faith. Chapter Sixty-Three Chapter Sixty-Four Chapter Sixty-Five Chapter Sixty-Six To Be Continued.....

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The Ybor City Museum Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1982. The society is a citizen support organization for the Ybor City Museum State Park and is committed in preserving, promoting and celebrating the unique cultural heritage of Ybor City through programs and exhibits. Part Four: El Segundo escape/the second escape Chapter Forty-Three Fernando was grateful for the high ceilings and huge fans in the Licata warehouse. His office was toward the rear of the vast space, and was semi-enclosed. It was a stifling hot and humid day in June of 1936. Almost five years had passed since Fernando joined the Licata family business. Having expanded beyond fresh fruits and vegetable, the company was now called "Licata Food Distributors". Focusing on Mediterranean food products, it was one of the main suppliers of wholesale food items to restaurants in Tampa and the west coast of Florida. This was the "public" version of the business. While Turiddu was focused on this legitimate enterprise, his older brother Rosario handled the more lucrative "non-public" activities. Gaetano, now 80 years old, spent his days quietly, working in his garden. "Bolita" means "little ball" in Spanish. It was also the name of an illegal lottery popular in Tampa and other nearby towns. One hundred numbered small balls are drawn from a cloth bag, with bets placed on which numbers would be drawn. Based on Cuban tradition, a system called "La Charada" assigned a specific object to each number. Superstitious players would bet based on some personal experience involving the object. For example, if one dreamed of an elephant, that week's bet would be on number 9. The Licatas controlled this favorite Tampa pastime, earning record profits. Also, during the prohibition years, Gaetano had become involved in smuggling liquor out of Cuba into Tampa; the Licata tentacles now extended well into that island country, in particular the casinos and nightclubs of Havana. Both Fernando and Ignacio had managed to survive and prosper during the worst years of the Great Depression. There were some signs that a slow recovery had begun, but it would be several more years until the economy would return to normal. They had both contributed in many ways to assist those in the community who had been less fortunate. Contributions to emergency assistance funds in the various mutual aid societies and food donations to food banks and cooperative grocery stores were among their efforts. "Bueno, Gaitero. En unas horas empieza su vacación! Están todos listo para el viaje y su primer vuelo? No sé cómo vamos a funcionar sin ti para cinco semanas!" Turiddu acknowledged that Fernando's vacation was to begin in a few hours, and he didn't know how they were going to function without him for five weeks. He asked if they were ready for the trip, and for their first flight. "Por supuesto. Estamos muy ilusionados. Tenemos gana ver nuestras familias después de tantos años. Estoy muy agradecido para la generosidad de tu familia." Fernando responded that they were very excited, and that they looked forward to seeing their families after so many years. He thanked Turiddu for his family's generosity. The time off and the regular gifts of cash that the Licatas gave him made this vacation possible. Fernando and Ignacio, along with most of their families, were going on a trip to Spain. It had long been their dream to return for a visit. Before Spain had transitioned to a Republic in 1931, many male Spanish immigrants feared going back, concerned that they would not be allowed to return. The monarchy and Catholic Church had frowned on those young men who had gone to Cuba or elsewhere to avoid the draconian military draft. Even though neither Fernando nor Ignacio had attained U.S. citizenship, they no longer harbored these fears. Their trip would begin the next day with a flight to Havana. After two days in Cuba, they would board a ship bound for Santander, Spain. Tampa's airport was named after Peter O'Knight, a well-known and wealthy attorney and entrepreneur. It was located on Davis Islands, a primarily residential area consisting of two man-made islands, developed during the Florida boom of the 1920s. Located near the confluence of the Hillsborough River and Hillsborough Bay, it housed a seaplane basin utilized by amphibious commercial aircraft. In addition to land-based operations by other airlines, Pan-American Airways had recently begun direct seaplane service to Havana from Tampa. As the Suárez and Prendes families gathered in the terminal lobby, they could hardly contain their excitement and anticipation. Carmela, the eldest Suárez child, would not be going. She was married and was expecting her first child. Anselmo, the eldest of the Prendes children, had offered to remain behind and oversee the operation of the dairy. As the eight travelers stepped up to the check-in counter, they handed their travel documents to the agent. Only Fernando and Ignacio lacked U.S. passports. Giuseppina had obtained her US citizenship some years before, and Sofia and the four children were born in Tampa. Fernando and Ignacio had their US residency cards and Spanish passports. After many years in Tampa, they were able to obtain their passports from the Spanish consulate in Tampa. Having immigrated to Cuba when it was still a Spanish province, they had not been required to obtain passports at that time. As they stepped into the amphibious aircraft, Luciano and Rafael scrambled to find two seats together. They had agreed that one of them could have the window seat for take-off, and switch halfway through the flight. Luciano, in particular, was fascinated with aviation. A steward went down the aisle, offering champagne to the adults and Coca-Cola to the children. The two boys were talking over each other with excitement. Spanish was their first language, but they, of course, spoke fluent English as well, having learned it in school. They had learned that they could block their parents from "eavesdropping" by simply speaking very rapidly in English. Even Fernando, who did speak limited English, couldn't understand them when they did this. Their fathers decided their behavior was all in fun, and due to their excitement. The aircraft taxied out of the basin and into Hillsborough Bay proper. Within a few minutes the four massive engines were drowning out all conversation as they revved up to full power. After what seemed like a brief but very rough boat ride, the water below and the surrounding land began to shrink in size as the plane rapidly gained altitude. Fernando leaned his head across the aisle to speak to Ignacio. "Que le parece, Zapato! Alguna vez en tu vida pensaste que estaríamos haciendo esto?" Fernando had asked Ignacio if, ever in his life, he thought they would be doing this. The Pan American Airways flight banked to the left over the city. Soon the west coast of Florida lay beneath them. Havana was but a mere two hours away. As the aircraft leveled off, Fernando's thoughts drifted back in time. Through the window he could see the tiny image of a ship. His love of maps and geography served him well. He knew it was passing Egmont Key as it entered the Port of Tampa shipping channel. He couldn't help but wonder if it was carrying young immigrants seeking a better life. He was transported back to November 9, 1900, the day he first arrived in Tampa. The steady hum of the engines was hypnotic, and he found himself deep in introspection. He was grateful beyond words for the life he now had, but still somewhat conflicted. Some aspects of the Licata business remained disturbing to him. While he rejected the basic Catholic dogma of sin and punishment in hell, he wondered if he or his family might one day pay a price for benefitting from the Licata enterprise. Over the years Turiddu had assured Fernando that the Licatas had shifted their activities away from those of violence. "Victimless" pursuits such as gambling, drinking, and prostitution were now the core of that "other" Licata business. The carnal vices of human beings were serving them well. Only those who violated the time-honored oaths of loyalty and secrecy suffered bodily harm. Fernando, always the pragmatist, reminded himself that above all, his mission was to provide the best possible life for his family. He knew, from his childhood experiences in Spain, that life's security and comfort were very tenuous. Unsettling forces beyond one's control could surface at any time. As the steward removed the lunch trays, the captain of the aircraft announced that they were now approaching the coast of Cuba and would be landing shortly. Fernando leaned forward and peered out of the window. He could see the outline of "El Malecón", Havana's famous esplanade and seawall. At one end lay the entrance to Havana harbor and the Morro Castle, an old Spanish fort. Havana, in all its splendor, never looked more beautiful. After transiting customs and immigration, the Suárez and Prendes families were met by an associate of Rosario Licata. Several assistants had gathered the luggage and loaded the bags into an enclosed van. The travelers were escorted onto two large touring cars, the adults in one car and the children in the other. Soon the entourage was on its way to the Hotel Plaza, in Old Havana. As they exited the airport area, Giuseppina and Sofia anxiously and repeatedly looked behind them. They wanted to make certain the car with the children was following them. Rosario's associate, riding with them, assured her that they were safer than the president of Cuba. As if to further reassure her, he introduced himself as Vincenzo, addressing her in perfect Sicilian. Gaetano's influence in Cuba was clearly present. Fernando was amazed at the changes which had occurred over the nearly 36 years since he had left Havana for Tampa. The early 20th century had been a time of unprecedented prosperity in Cuba, largely driven by the tobacco and sugar industries. Prior to World War I, the main source of the world's sugar supply was beet sugar from Eastern Europe. The war had eliminated access to that source, and Cuba suddenly became the undisputed world capital of sugar. In 1925, Cuba produced 5 million tons of cane sugar. While poverty was certainly an issue, Cuba's middle class was one of the largest in Latin America. The next two days were spent relaxing and touring the highlights of Havana, which had become a world-class city, with an obvious American influence. After checking out of the hotel, the travelers and luggage were again arranged in a motorcade and taken to the Port of Havana. The cars approached a guard shack and stopped. "Señor Suárez, como se llama su barco?" Vincenzo had asked Fernando the name of their ship. "Se llama "Cantabria", y es de la línea Compañía Trasatlantica Española". Fernando had responded that the ship was called "Cantabria" and operated by the "Spanish Transatlantic Company", one of the main passenger shipping lines between the Americas and Spain. Within a few minutes, they arrived at the processing area for the departing passengers. Vincenzo embraced the men and bowed to the women and children. He wished them a good trip, and asked Giuseppina to extend his greetings and warm wishes to the entire Licata family. As the immigration officer looked through the documents, he politely questioned Fernando and Ignacio in detail. When had they left Spain? Had they been back to Spain since they emigrated? Had they served in the Spanish military? After answering all the questions, they were cleared and boarded the ship. They had reserved large suites across the hall from each other. Each suite consisted of two bedrooms separated by a small common sitting area. The fathers and sons would sleep in one bedroom, and the mothers and daughters in the other. After getting settled, the two families gathered on the main deck to enjoy their departure from Havana. It was late June, and the summer heat and humidity were palpable. After a few blasts of its horn, the "Cantabria" slowly pushed away from the dock, assisted by several tugboats. Soon they were passing the Morro Castle, an old Spanish fortress built centuries ago to guard the entrance to the harbor, the most important in the history of the Spanish Empire. Within minutes, the ship banked to the right and began to increase its speed. The sea air, rushing against their faces, was a welcome relief from the heat. "Zapato, me siento como el Rey de España. Nunca pensaba en realizar el sueño de ver mis padres y la tierrina otra vez. Parece mentira que en una semana estaremos con nuestras familias en Candamo. Hemos tenido una suerte que no es típica para muchos inmigrantes, verdad?" Fernando commented to Ignacio that he felt like the King of Spain, and never thought he would realize his dream of seeing his parents or his homeland again. It was hard for him to believe that in about one week they would be back in Candamo, with their families. He acknowledged that both of them had been luckier than most of their fellow immigrants. "De acuerdo, Gaitero. Pero también hemos trabajado mucho por lo que tenemos, no es solo por la suerte." Ignacio agreed with Fernando, but also pointed out that they had both worked very hard for what they have, and it wasn't only because of "luck". "Tienes razón, pero muchos otros trabajan duro sin tener éxito. Creo que la vida es una apuesta, y a veces fuera de nuestro control." Fernando responded that many others also work hard but don't achieve success. He elaborated that he believes life is a gamble, and sometimes beyond our control. Their first dinner was not disappointing. "Cantabria" was not a super deluxe ship but had a reputation for excellent accommodations and outstanding food typical of Northern Spain. Inside the front cover of the menu was a history of the ship. Originally called "Rey Alfonso XIII" ("King Alphonse the Thirteenth"), its name was changed in 1931 when Spain elected a Democratic Republic, rejecting the royalty and the Catholic Church. Fernando and Ignacio agreed that they were soon to experience a "new Spain". It was very early in the morning of their seventh and final day at sea. They would be docking at the port of Santander in roughly ten hours. The night had been foggy, and the ship had appropriately slowed, sounding its foghorn periodically. Though this had made sleeping somewhat difficult, Fernando and Ignacio felt energized with excitement. As they stood on the main deck, they could occasionally see faint beams of light attempting to penetrate the gloom. This part of the Spanish coast was extremely rugged, and dotted with numerous lighthouses. Though it was now early July, the waters and wind off Northern Spain were quite cold. It was a welcome respite from the summer heat of Tampa and Cuba. Deep in thought, Zapato and Gaitero sipped mugs of hot coffee with milk. As the sun began to break up some of the mist and fog, a particularly impressive lighthouse began to come into view. Within minutes they could see Cabo Vidio ("Cape Vidio"), a beautiful peninsula that jutted out from the coast, the lighthouse at its very tip. This was one of their favorite places when, as children, they would occasionally venture out to the coast with their families. Each man looked slightly away from the other. Their silence spoke volumes as they both fought back tears. As the ship entered the large estuary which led to the docks of Santander, throngs of passengers were lining the decks. For many, this was their first visit to their native Spain after having left many years prior. Transiting the immigration and customs office was easier than anticipated. Within two hours of docking, the Suárez and Prendes families were resting comfortably in their hotel. Their train to Asturias was scheduled for the next morning. Rather than eating dinner at the hotel, they decided to walk to a nearby restaurant. As they walked along the streets, the children commented how different this was, compared to Tampa. They found the density of people to be somewhat disorienting, yet fascinating. They were quickly learning that America's most readily available commodity is space. Train travel was a new experience for the children, and they excitedly took their seats. Soon the train was beyond the city. The countryside impressed them beyond words. The extremely mountainous terrain, verdant and dotted with stone farmhouses, couldn't be more different than the vast flatness of Florida. Fernando, Giuseppina, Ignacio and Sofia were grateful that they were able to give this wonderful gift of travel to their children. The train station in Oviedo, Asturias was jammed with travelers. This was the beginning of a holiday weekend. As the two families gathered their baggage and navigated the crowds, Ignacio commented to the others. "Oigo mucha gente discutiendo la política. Parece que hay problemas en el Congreso en Madrid. Creo que muchos están preocupados que la república es muy frágil." Ignacio had noticed that many people were discussing politics. There seemed to be concern that the democratically elected Spanish Republic, now five years old, was in a fragile state. Apparently, the Congress in Madrid was having problems. "Bueno, ahora somos americanos y estos son problemas para los españoles, no para nosotros!" Fernando replied that they were now Americans, and these were problems for the Spaniards, not for them. Ignacio was about to remind him that he and Fernando were still Spanish citizens, when a loud voice distracted them. "Familias Prendes y Suárez! Familias Prendes y Suárez!" A man with a cap was paging the two families. Ignacio raised his hand and called to the man with the cap. The gentleman, rather elderly, rushed toward the group, pushing a large baggage cart. "Soy portero de la estación. Hay dos coches que les esperan afuera. Darme su equipaje y les llevo ahora mismo." The man described himself as a station porter. He told Ignacio that two cars were waiting for them outside the station. He offered to transport their luggage and began loading the bags onto the cart. Fernando had advised his brother of their arrival details, asking him to help arrange hired cars with drivers. He was impressed and relieved that all was going as planned. The parents and children almost instinctively arranged themselves into the two cars, as they had done in Havana. As the porter was loading the final bag into the trunk, he turned to Fernando. "Muy bien, señor. Y de dónde son ustedes?" The porter had asked Fernando where they were from. "Somos americanos, pero yo y el otro señor nacimos aquí." Fernando replied that they are Americans, but that he and the other gentleman had been born here. "Ah, americanos. De dónde, La Argentina o Cuba?" The porter understood that they were Americans but wondered if they were from Argentina or Cuba. At that point, Fernando remembered that in Spain, "America" refers to the entire region of North, Central, and South America, not to just the United States. He felt embarrassed that perhaps he had developed a bit of the geographical arrogance commonly attributed to those from the U.S. "Perdón, señor. Somos de Los Estados Unidos." Fernando apologized, explaining that they were from the United States. "No sabía que había inmigrantes españoles en Los Estados Unidos. Pensaba que todos habían ido a Cuba o La Argentina. Bienvenidos a tu tierrina." The porter expressed surprise, telling Fernando that he was not aware of Spanish immigrants in the U.S. He thought they had all gone to Cuba or Argentina. He then welcomed him "home". Fernando smiled, and handed the porter a rather generous tip. The old man smiled and thanked him, tipping his cap. As children, neither Fernando nor Ignacio, or their families, ventured into Oviedo very often. Their lives were focused in and around their small country villages. However, they both noted significant changes in the city, with notable improvement in infrastructure. There appeared to be an emerging middle class, symbolized by the surprising number of modern automobiles. As the cars approached San Román, both Fernando and Ignacio agreed that little had changed. Cars were a rare sight, donkeys still the primary means of transport. One notable change was the presence of some electrification, mostly of government buildings and some private businesses. A small crowd had gathered in the center of the village. As the cars came to a stop, many people rushed toward them. Fernando and Ignacio immediately recognized their parents. As they emerged from the car, the two immigrants were embraced by their mothers, both of whom were crying uncontrollably. The frenzy of hugs and kisses made it almost impossible to breathe, a small price to pay for these moments of unbridled joy. After the introductions and more rounds of hugging and kissing, the group made its way to the Suárez home, located immediately outside of the village proper. Both families had organized a welcome dinner for the visiting Americans. Several long tables had been placed beneath a trellis on which a flowering vine was growing. "Entonces, han regresados los indianos!" Ignacio's father had announced the return of the "Indians". This was the term used in Spain, primarily in the north, to describe those emigrants who had settled in the Americas. This was a result of Christopher Columbus mistakenly assuming he had sailed to India when he stepped foot on the island of Hispaniola. As immigrants prospered, many returned to Asturias and built large, stately homes. These homes were of a unique design, often with an American or Victorian influence. These dotted the Asturian countryside, and were known as "Casas de Indianos", "Homes of the Indians". The visiting Americans, particularly the children, were fascinated and amused by this cultural curiosity. The Spanish relatives were impressed that Fernando's and Ignacio's U.S.-born children, as well as Giuseppina, were so fluent in Spanish. This surprise also extended to their familiarity with the local foods and customs. Fernando and Ignacio explained that parts of Tampa were very much like Asturian or Galician villages that had been extracted and moved across the ocean to that city in Florida, so far away. The days that followed were spent "playing tourist" and visiting old friends and extended relatives. Fernando and Ignacio had arranged to hire the two cars and drivers for their entire visit. The drivers were offered food and accommodations in a spare room at the Suárez house. The children, in particular, were impressed with the beauty and serenity of the Asturian countryside, particularly the rugged coastline. More importantly, they had bonded with their grandparents and other relatives beyond what their fathers had ever imagined possible. Fernando and Ignacio grew more intrigued by the "Casas de Indianos." They inquired as to what the cost would be to construct one. The price was very reasonable, and they were giving strong consideration to building one large enough for both of their families to share. The idea was to visit often, and perhaps return permanently after retiring. After locating property for sale in the village of Somado, they arranged to meet with a building contractor to gather more information. Somado, or "Somao" in the Asturian language, was a small village about 10 miles from San Roman, with a view of the nearby Cantabrian Sea. It had become popular with immigrants returning from Cuba, and had many beautiful "Casas de Indianos." Friday, July 17, 1936 was a particularly beautiful day. The Spanish sky was cloudless and of a deep blue color rarely seen in Tampa. The meeting in Somao with the building contractor had turned into a family outing. While Fernando and Ignacio would meet with the construction people, Sofia, Giuseppina, and the children would be driven to the coast for lunch and a visit to the beach. The Spanish relatives, busy cutting hay for the coming winter, would not be joining them. The meeting took place in a cafe in the middle of Somao. The contractor and an architect were waiting at the cafe when the cars arrived. After introductions and polite conversation, the wives and children departed. As the four men ate an early lunch, they discussed the general concept of the house. After lunch, they took a short walk up a hill to view the parcel of land that Fernando and Ignacio were considering purchasing. The view toward the sea was breathtaking. Suddenly, the men became aware of shouting in the distance. Glancing down toward the cafe, they could see a frenzy of activity. People were rushing about, some getting in their cars and speeding away. Others were rushing into the cafe. Though difficult to discern what was being said, it was obvious that something very profound was happening. The four men quickly descended the hill, retracing their steps back to the cafe. As they approached the entrance to the dining room, they could hear the distinctive crackling sound of a radio broadcast. Inside, a crowd had gathered around a radio at one corner of the bar. "Por favor. Que ha pasado?" "Please. What has happened?" The contractor addressed the crowd, seeking an answer. One man turned toward them. "Un grupo de generales del ejército han tumbado el gobierno en Marruecos Español, y parece que otros en otras ciudades por la península están haciendo lo mismo!" This man had advised them that a group of Spanish army generals had toppled the government in Spanish Morocco, and other generals were attempting to do the same in other parts of the Spanish mainland peninsula. Apparently, a coup d'état was underway. Fernando and Ignacio, realizing the gravity of the situation, knew they had to gather their families and leave Spain as soon as possible. Their wives and children were due to return to Somao in approximately one hour. Desperately trying to decide what to do next, they were distracted by familiar voices. "Fernando! Ignacio! Por favor, que está pasando?" Sofia and Giuseppina, speaking simultaneously, had rushed into the cafe and were frantically calling for their husbands, wondering what was going on. Luckily, they had heard the news while having lunch at the coast and immediately headed back to retrieve them. They raced to the two waiting cars. Along with their children they hurriedly began driving toward San Roman. As they approached San Roman, they noticed that the fields and farms were devoid of people. On entering the village, a large crowd, practically all of the local residents, had gathered at the small train station. One of the few radios in San Roman had been placed on the outdoor platform, at full volume. The visitors joined their friends and relatives already gathered. The news was grim. While most of the efforts to take over major mainland cities had failed, Seville had fallen to the rebel forces. These forces were led by generals opposed to the democratically elected Republican government. They favored returning the monarchy and restoring the formal power of the Catholic Church. They had established a military foothold in Southern Spain, allowing Spanish rebel forces from the African colonies to invade the mainland. Spain was at the beginning of a civil war. Fernando and Ignacio stared at each other in disbelief. The hours that followed were filled with confusion and chaos, fueled by rumors. The Spanish military, along with the citizenry, were fragmenting as people were aligning along ideological lines, choosing whether to support the uprising (the Nationalists) or supporting the elected Republic. It appeared most of San Roman was supporting the Republic. However, by nightfall there were reports of a few verbal and physical confrontations among friends and neighbors. Some of the more ardent Republicans began throwing rocks and attempting to set fire to the local church. The rebel generals, broadcasting from Spanish Morocco, framed the war as an attempt to save Spain from Communism. The Republican government accused the Nationalists of being Fascist puppets of Germany and Italy, both under Fascist dictatorships. By the next morning, Spain had sealed its borders. Only foreign nationals were allowed to leave, and entry into Spain was limited to Spanish citizens and foreign journalists. The Suárez and Prendes families met at Ignacio's parents' farm in Cuero, a few miles from San Roman. "Gaitero, esto es una locura. Tenemos que regresar inmediatamente a Los Estados Unidos. Hay rumores que los generales fascistas tienen listas de los emigrantes que marcharon para evitar el militar. A ellos que tienen más de cuarenta años los fusilan o los meten en la cárcel. A los más jóvenes los reclutan en su ejército. No sé si es verdad o no, pero tenemos que salir de España!" Ignacio, visibly shaken, told Fernando that they needed to leave Spain as soon as possible. There were rumors that Fascist generals had lists of those emigrants who had left Spain in order to avoid the military. Those that are over 40 years of age are either shot or put in prison. The younger ones are recruited into their armies. He didn't know whether this was true, but they certainly needed to leave Spain. Fernando agreed. In fact, the Suárez family had arrived in the village of Cuero with their bags packed, ready to travel. Some of Fernando's relatives had accompanied them. Fernando's and Ignacio's mothers, both crying, were consoling each other. Ignacio's father had heard that there were several taxi drivers in the nearby town of Grado who were offering to transport foreign nationals to the port of Vigo, in the adjacent province of Galicia. It was approximately 250 miles away, and one of the few major Spanish ports that had not been sealed off. Fernando knew that there was a U.S. Consulate Office in Vigo, something that might be of use to them. The area surrounding Grado had a high number of emigrants who had returned for a summer visit, many from Cuba, and some from Tampa. These taxi drivers quickly came to realize that this was a business opportunity for them, since most were scrambling to find a quick way out of Spain. After a hasty and very emotional farewell to their friends and relatives, the visitors got into their hired cars, headed for Grado. The Suarez and Prendes families were in separate cars. Because of the gravity of the situation, they thought it best for the children to travel with their parents. The latest news reports indicated that most of Asturias was aligning with the Republicans, but neighboring Galicia was a mixed bag, with pockets of strong support for the Nationalists. Fernando was anticipating that they would be able to transit Asturias with no problem, but Galicia might be a different matter. Grado was unusually quiet for a Saturday morning. As the largest town in the area, it normally would have been much busier. Apparently, many residents decided that keeping a low profile was in their best interest. There were several taxis parked adjacent to the town's main square, the drivers sitting on a nearby bench. The cars with the Americans parked alongside them. Fernando and Ignacio approached the group of drivers. "Buenas. Nos dijieron que algunos aquí pueden ayudarnos llegar a Vigo. Es verdad? Somos ocho personas." Fernando, bidding them a good morning, said they'd been told that some drivers might be able to take them to Vigo. He asked if this was the case and told them that they were a party of eight people. The response was one of silence, and the drivers' body language indicated hesitation and nervousness. "De dónde son ustedes? De Cuba?" One of the taxi drivers responded by asking where they were from, wondering whether they were from Cuba. Fernando explained the situation, indicating that all but Ignacio and he were U.S. citizens. Apparently, word was out that transporting Spanish citizens across provincial boundaries was risky. "Deberían hablar con Juan y con Manuel, pero ellos salieron esta mañana con unos Cubanos a Vigo. No sabemos cuando regresan." The taxi driver explained that they needed to talk to Juan and Manuel. They had left early that morning for Vigo with a group of Cubans. He explained that they didn't know when they would return. Fernando asked if they could negotiate for two of them to take their group to Vigo. They responded, somewhat apologetically, that they were family men and were not willing to incur the risks. Fernando and Ignacio understood, thanking them and returning to their hired cars. One of their regular drivers, Serafín, was not by his car. Ignacio asked the other driver, Rufino, if he knew where he was. He explained that he had walked to the post office to make a telephone call. Suddenly, Ignacio feared that perhaps he had gone to inform certain authorities of his and Fernando's intentions. He wondered if perhaps Serafin was a Nationalist sympathizer, or perhaps the atmosphere of paranoia had simply affected his judgement. Serafin approached the group. "Caballeros, tenemos que hablar. Vamos a sentar aquí en este banco, por favor. Ahora mismo llamé a la compañía en Oviedo. El despachador de los carros es un buen amigo mío. Él, como casi todos los empleados, son apoyadores de la Republica, y sé que puedo hablar con él en confianza. Él me dijo que pudiéramos llevaros a Vigo. Estos coches están alquilados por un tiempo fijo, y él no tiene que saber adónde vamos. Tenemos que hablar de los detalles, porque hay un riesgo, claro." Serafín explained that he called the company he works for in Oviedo. Unlike the local taxis in Grado, which were owned by the individual drivers themselves, Rufino and he leased their taxis from the company. The company owned and maintained the cars for a percentage of their earnings. The car dispatcher was a good and trustworthy friend. Like most of the employees, he was also a supporter of the Republic. Since the cars had been rented for another two weeks, it would be possible for him and Rufino to drive them to Vigo. Because there was some element of risk involved, they would have to discuss details. There was an agreement that in addition to the price they had already paid, Rufino and Serafin would be given a bonus, plus expense money for the additional gas and food for their return trip to Oviedo. They would be taking small country roads, avoiding major cities and the more popular provincial border crossings. Serafin went to a local hardware store and purchased several of the most current road maps available, along with several large metal containers and some canvas material. Though not entirely accurate, the maps would provide a guide as they "hopped" from one small village to another. After examining the maps, the two drivers concluded that the trip would take at least three days. The Spanish highway system was still in its infancy, compared to that of the U.S.A. Being unsure of exactly what awaited them on the journey, they decided to stock up on food and gasoline. Extra gasoline was stored in the large containers covered with canvas and placed on the roofs of the cars, with the baggage. This was, of course, hazardous, but a necessary risk. Sofia and Giuseppina visited the local shops. They returned with numerous loaves of bread, cured meats, and some canned items, along with a can opener. Within two hours they left Grado on the "Carretera General" ("General Highway") toward Salas. In Salas, they turned off the main highway and toward the southwest. Fernando felt more anxiety than he had experienced when he left Spain for Cuba at the age of 14. As the "caravan" of two large cars passed through the small villages, people stared. Cars, particularly large ones filled with people and baggage, were relatively rare outside of the larger towns and cities. In many cases, as the cars approached the center of the villages, those outside would scurry back inside their homes, closing their doors and windows. The atmosphere of fear, suspicion, and uncertainty was palpable. After approximately six hours, the Americans arrived in the town of Grandas de Salime, having traveled a distance of about sixty miles. Luciano, fascinated with navigation and geography, had been meticulously noting their progress on the car's odometer. The town was in Asturias, but near the Galician border. Fernando turned to his driver. "Rufino, por favor. Encuentres un café o restaurante para que podemos descansar y comer. Todos estamos cansados y ya son las seis y cuarto de la tarde. Creo que sería lo mejor si pasamos la noche aquí." Fernando asked Rufino to locate a cafe or restaurant where they could stop for dinner. He suggested that it would be best to spend the night here, as they were all tired. It was now 6:15 p.m. Thanks to the long Asturian summer days, several hours of daylight remained. Though the town was small, this made exploring much easier. Within minutes Rufino had located a restaurant and parked the car a short distance away. Serafín followed suit in the other car. The evening was pleasant, and many diners were sitting at outdoor tables. As the travelers exited the two cars, they became the focus of attention. The small town of Grandas de Salime was not accustomed to visitors. They were enthusiastically greeted by the owner, who quickly put several tables together to accommodate the party of ten. The owner told them he would be serving them. As he left the table, Ignacio whispered to Fernando, questioning if maybe he was a Fascist spy. The two men chuckled softly. Dinner was predictably more than substantial. As they were being served their dessert and coffee, the cafe owner asked if they were headed to Vigo. Apparently, several other small groups had passed through the village the day before. Ignacio quickly replied. "Pues somos de los estados unidos. Estamos aquí de visita y nuestro barco sale de Vigo en una semana. Queríamos ver un poco de esta parte de la tierrina, y visitar unos amigos cerca de Lugo en Galicia." Practically before the proprietor had stopped speaking, Ignacio nervously began a hasty explanation of their presence. After immediately and emphatically saying they were from the United States, he explained that they were visiting Asturias and wanted to see friends near Lugo, Galicia enroute to catch their ship home from Vigo. The server's quiet smile indicated that he knew the truth; his diners were yet more Spanish nationals, now living in America, desperately trying to avoid being trapped in Spain. As the travelers were preparing to leave the cafe, the owner approached them. "Hay una posada dos manzanas de aquí donde se pueden dormir y desayunar bien. Los dueños son buenos amigos míos. No tendréis ningunas problemas allí. Os deseo buena suerte, y un viaje muy seguro." The cafe owner explained that good friends of his operated an inn about two blocks away. They could have a good night's sleep and a nice breakfast there. He assured them there would be no problem and wished them a safe trip. As promised, their accommodations were excellent, the owners polite and accommodating. By 8 a.m. the two families were back on the road. The goal was to drive as far as possible while there was still daylight, approximately 14 hours. After an hour they crossed the provincial border into Galicia. The hotel clerk, sympathetic to their cause, had advised Fernando and Ignacio that there were pockets of strong Nationalist support within Galicia, and to proceed with caution. Luckily, the crossing was not guarded; their decision to avoid the more populated areas had paid off. The crossing was uneventful, marked only by an old metal sign. There was collective relief at having successfully crossed their first hurdle. The roads were better than expected, and the goal was to drive beyond the large city of Lugo. Several hours later they were approaching Lugo. Rather than driving through the city, the decision was made to circumvent it, going through the smaller villages surrounding it. This was a mistake. A roadblock consisting of several military vehicles lay shortly ahead of them. They were already conspicuous; any attempt to turn around and avoid it would certainly draw even more attention. The lead car with the Suárez family stopped a few feet from the barrier, the car with the Prendes family behind it. A uniformed man, apparently an officer in the Spanish army, approached the driver's side of the car. "Papeles de identificación, por favor! Están viajando juntos?" "Identity papers, please! Are you traveling together?" The officer, not smiling, gestured to the other car, asking if they were traveling together. Fernando answered that they were and explained that they, with the exception of the two drivers, were all from the United States. Giuseppina and the children handed him their passports, Fernando presented his U.S. alien registration card and Spanish passport. Rufino, the driver, presented his local identity card. The officer ordered everyone out of both cars. After collecting identification papers for all ten people, he proceeded to meticulously read through each document. Occasionally, he would glance up, matching specific faces with specific photographs on the documents. "Señor Suárez y Señor Prendes, parece que ustedes son ciudadanos españoles. Cuando marcharon de este país? Estuvieron en el militar español antes de marchar?" The officer commented that Fernando and Ignacio were still Spanish citizens. He wanted to know when they left the country, and whether or not they had served in the Spanish military prior to leaving. These types of questions had become a "litmus test", a way of determining whether Spanish emigrants where loyal to the monarchy and the Church, or part of a communist attempt to take over Spain. Such hyperbolic thinking was permeating the entire country. Clearly, this military officer was a Nationalist whose sympathies lay with the Fascist rebels. What followed were several minutes of propaganda as to why the current Republic was corrupt, and a disaster for Spain. This led to commentary concerning how easy the American life of luxury was, compared to Spain. The officer stepped away from the group to confer with other officers. "Mira, Gaitero. Creo que este hombre está dando pistas de que quizás podemos pagar para evitar problemas. Todos los comentarios sobre la vida de lujo en los Estados Unidos, etc. Creo que son mensajes en código. Que piensas? Deberíamos tomar el riesgo de hacer una oferta?" Ignacio shared that he thought the officer was hinting they could perhaps bribe their way out of any potential problems. He felt that the rambling about "the good life in the USA" was a coded message to "the rich Americans" that he was open to accepting payment for his cooperation. Fernando agreed, and offered to handle the situation. Ignacio nodded in agreement. When the officer returned, he simply held their papers, staring silently at Fernando and Ignacio. Fernando, addressing him respectfully, told him that yes, they had achieved financial security in the U.S.A. He added that they were also known as generous to those less fortunate, anxious to assist others in need. Continuing, he commented that in the U.S.A. dedicated military officers were notoriously underpaid and overworked, and wondered if perhaps it was the same in Spain. The carefully worded message seemed to work. With a smile, the officer responded that he felt his salary was a certain number of "pesetas" (Spanish currency) below what it should be. Fernando offered to "loan" him ten times this amount. The officer tipped his cap, smiling broadly. Fernando and Ignacio pooled their money and handed it to the officer. In exchange, the officer handed each of them a document as a "promissory note". These documents bore the seal of the Spanish military and would ensure that they could proceed to Vigo without any difficulty. The Spanish officer returned their identification documents and wished them a safe return home. After two more nights spent on the road, the anxious travelers arrived in the large port city of Vigo, Galicia. Serafín and Rufino stopped at a gas station to refuel their cars. Fernando, explaining the situation, asked if he could use their phone to call the U.S. Consulate. After being assisted by a telephone operator, he was able to complete the call. The representative gave him directions to the office, recommending that they present themselves as soon as possible, with all relevant documents. After navigating a complex maze of narrow, meandering streets, the two cars emerged onto a broad, tree-lined street with numerous government buildings. Luckily, a U.S. flag was prominently displayed at their destination, making it easy to locate. Rufino and Serafín dropped them off at the entrance. They would park the cars and wait for them at the building entrance. Two U.S. army soldiers guarded the entrance to the consulate. Normally this level of security was reserved for embassies, but the unstable situation in Spain warranted additional security. The eight Americans approached the soldiers. One of the soldiers stepped in front of the entrance, speaking to the group. “Good morning. Are all of you American citizens?” Fernando explained that with the exception of Ignacio and him, all were U.S. citizens. He added that he and Ignacio were Spanish citizens, but legal residents of the U.S.A. After examining their documents, the soldier nodded, stepping aside and politely waving them through. He explained that they needed to go to the second floor and speak with the receptionist. The reception area was filled to near capacity, with several people in line to register with the receptionist. The line moved quickly. The receptionist inspected the pertinent documents, making entries into a registry. Fernando handed her the documents for all eight of the Tampa people. She smiled, recorded their information, and returned their documents. She told Fernando that they were number 14 in line to see the consulate staff. She handed him a ticket with the number 14. She addressed the group. “As you can see, we are extremely busy. We ask for your patience, as your wait could be several hours. I do hope you understand.” The Suárez and Prendes families acknowledged her kindness with smiles and nods of agreement. They were thankful to be on what was essentially “U.S. soil”, at least in their minds. As they took their seats in the crowded waiting area, Ignacio turned to Fernando. “Gaitero, ahora entiendo mejor que nunca esa sensación de seguridad que viene con ser un estadounidense.” Ignacio had commented to Fernando that now, more than ever, he understood that feeling of security that comes from being an American, referring specifically to the United States. Fernando responded. “De acuerdo, Zapato, pero recuérdate que tú y yo no somos ciudadanos. Veremos que va pasar aquí.” Fernando reminded Igancio that they were not U.S. citizens, and wondered what would result from their meeting with the U.S. consul. More than two hours passed, and the last number called was number nine. They were given permission to bring food into the waiting area. Luciano and Rafael volunteered to seek out sandwiches to bring back to the group. Their fathers cautioned them to not get lost, reminding them how easy it is to lose one’s sense of direction in congested European cities. The boys expressed confidence but wrote down the exact address of their location. Soon they returned with substantial food for all. Their youth allowed them to view their situation as another great adventure. “Number 14 please.” After almost another two hours, their number was finally called. The eight Tampanians rose in unison, attracting some attention. Most other groups were no more than three people. After verifying that they were traveling together, a representative led them to the consul’s office. They had been assigned to the consul himself, as opposed to an assistant. He introduced himself as Mr. Abernathy, greeting them warmly. He advised them that his Spanish was marginal and asked if he could speak in English with a consulate translator providing a Spanish translation. Everyone agreed. Mr. Abernathy got directly to the point. The six U.S. citizens could return to the U.S.A with no problem, as long as they could obtain transportation. Fernando’s and Igancio’s status was less clear, and potentially problematic. Though they were legal residents of the United States, they were Spanish citizens. He explained that the civil war was only in its fifth day and chaos was everywhere. The U.S. currently was officially neutral, not taking sides in the conflict. This news was surprising, since it had been assumed that the U.S. would actively support the democratically elected Republic. The United States government was not officially accepting refugees, i.e., those Spanish citizens fleeing the war. Additionally, the Spanish immigration offices had been transferred from civilian to military control. Policies at the points of embarkation were inconsistent, depending on whether local military authorities had sided with the Republic or with the Nationalist rebels. This was particularly an issue in Galicia, where the military loyalties were split between the two sides. Mr. Abernathy apologized for not being able to give them a more precise answer, but this was the best he could do in a situation that was changing hourly. Ignacio inquired about perhaps trying to get home via nearby Portugal, whose border was only 20 miles from Vigo. The consul advised them that only Portuguese nationals were being allowed to transit the border, so this was not an option. France was accepting some foreign citizens, including those from the U.S., but not Spanish citizens. Fernando asked if there was an international telegraph office nearby. Mr. Abernathy explained that they had a direct link to Western Union in the consulate. Because of the current situation, they were allowing access to the service by U.S. citizens and anyone traveling with them. “Zapato, podemos mandar un telegrama a Turiddu Licata. Creo que la familia Licata tiene algunas conexiones con el Señor Payne, el congresista de Tampa en Washington.” Fernando, addressing Ignacio, suggested that they send a telegram to Turiddu Licata. He remembered that the Licata family had some connections to Representative Payne, the congressman from Tampa in Washington. Mr. Abernathy supported the idea. He commented that any help available should be utilized as soon as possible, due to the confusing situation. He asked the translator to take Fernando and Igancio to the communications station at the far end of the office complex. The other Tampanians could wait in the receiving area. They thanked Mr. Abernathy and filed out of his office. Fernando and Ignacio composed a brief but clear message to Turiddu. They explained the situation was getting desperate, and any help would need to be arranged quickly. It was now late on a Tuesday evening in Tampa. Realistically, they did not expect a response until Thursday at the earliest. The translator generously offered to arrange accommodations at a nearby hotel. He said that as soon as a response was received, the consulate would contact them at the hotel. Ignacio asked the translator to also arrange a room for Serafín and Rufino. Within a few minutes the arrangements were completed. Fernando and Ignacio thanked the translator profusely for his help and returned to the waiting area to retrieve the others. As had been arranged, Rufino and Serafín were patiently waiting near the consulate entrance. Apologizing for the long wait, Fernando explained the situation. The two drivers assured them that they understood, and were concerned about their situation. The cars were parked nearby and not far from the hotel. They retrieved their luggage and proceeded another 2 blocks to the Hotel Pontevedra. It was an impressive property, built in the early part of the 20th century. There were few guests, and this resulted in the hotel having a somewhat ghostly feel. Nonetheless, the accommodations were superb, and they all relished the idea of simply relaxing for a few days. After an early breakfast, Fernando and Ignacio asked the concierge for directions to the Port of Vigo. They, along with Rufino and Serafín, would go in one of the cars to the main office of the port to inquire as to the possibility of obtaining passage to the U.S.A. They asked their wives and children to remain in the hotel, much to the dismay of Rafael and Luciano. The administrative offices of the port were outside of the security zone patrolled by the militarized customs and immigration departments. The office was busy, and there was a line to access the information desk. After less than an hour, Fernando and Igancio were able to speak to a clerk. Apparently, there were no passenger ships scheduled to call on the port. However, several freighters bound for the U.S.A. were scheduled to depart within the next week. Many of the ships' captains were allowing small numbers of passengers for a negotiated fee. The clerk emphasized that all passengers would need to be U.S. citizens or in possession of official documents allowing them to enter the U.S.A. She also emphasized that this policy could change at any moment, and recommended that they obtain the necessary papers as soon as possible. Once this was done, she could put them in contact with the captains of the ships. Thanking her, they left the office and headed back to the hotel. Ignacio turned to Fernando. “Otro ejemplo de cómo la desgracia de algunos son buenas oportunidades para otros. Por supuesto la señora con quien hablamos recibirá una comisión de los capitanes.” Ignacio had commented that here was another example of how the misfortunes of some were good opportunities for others. He was certain that the helpful clerk would receive a commission from the ship captains. Fernando agreed, adding that is the essence of capitalism. With controls, it was a good system. He added that the value of a service is whatever people are willing to pay for it. Soon they were back at the Hotel Pontevedra, anxiously awaiting word from the U.S. Consulate. Chapter Forty-Four Chapter Forty-Five Chapter Forty-Six Chapter Forty-Seven Chapter Forty-Eight Chapter Forty-Nine It was now Thursday morning, the Tampanians’ third day in Vigo. There was still no word from from the U.S. Consulate. Rufino and Serafín were still available to accompany the Suárez and Prendes families. After breakfast at the hotel, the group decided to see the sites in and around Vigo. Primarily an industrial port city, Vigo had a fascinating historic quarter. It seemed that more people were speaking Gallego than Spanish. Fernando and Ignacio were able to communicate well in Gallego. This was a result of their long friendship with Maruxa, their former landlady at La Gallega boarding house. They noticed that in some situations, people were hesitant to speak their native language. The Nationalist rebels were proposing the banning of all languages other than Spanish, an attempt to unify the “Spanish motherland”, much like what Hitler and Mussolini were doing in Germany and Italy. It was just before two o’clock in the afternoon when the group returned to their hotel. As they were walking past the front desk, a voice called out. “Por favor. Señor Suárez. Tenemos un mensaje para ti.” The concierge was calling for Fernando, advising him that they had received a message for him. Fernando hurried to the desk. He was handed an envelope. A note inside requested that he call the U.S. Consulate as soon as possible. “Tenemos que llamar al consulado inmediatamente.” Fernando advised the others that they needed to call the consulate immediately. He suggested that they gather in his room to make the call. Within minutes Fernando was speaking with Mr. Abernathy. The news was good. The consulate had received a telegram authorizing the issuance of “safe conduct and U.S.A. entry” papers for Fernando and Ignacio. Apparently, the Licatas had contacted Representative Payne immediately. He then contacted the U.S. Department of State, explaining the situation. They were able to forward the authorization directly to Mr. Abernathy. Apparently, the Licatas’ “friendship” with the local congressman had very deep roots. Fernando turned to the other Tampanians. “Bueno, como dicen. Él que tiene padrino, le bautizan.” Fernando had quoted an old Spanish saying: “He who has a godfather, is baptized.” This was the Spanish way of saying that knowing the right people will open doors that might otherwise be closed. Mr. Abernathy asked that Fernando and Ignacio present themselves at the consulate. He needed to attach the authorization to their alien registration cards. Additionally, the Spanish Republican government in Madrid had forwarded an authorization that would be added to their Spanish passports. Within two hours, Fernando and Ignacio had returned from the consulate with all necessary documents for travel and entry into the United States. All that remained was to book passage. It was now after five o’clock in the afternoon and the port office was closed. They would return to the port first thing in the morning. Rufino and Serafín agreed to stay until the Tampanians had actually set sail. There was a short line when they arrived at the port offices, one hour prior to opening. The eight travelers from Tampa appeared to be the largest single group. Within 40 minutes after the office opened, it was their turn to speak with the agent. She informed them there was a freighter scheduled to leave for New York on Sunday morning, which was two days away. She also advised them that the accommodations were spartan, but acceptable for eight passengers. The ship was due to arrive in Vigo later that afternoon. She offered to talk with the captain and then call them at the hotel. Fernando and Ignacio agreed, handing her everyone’s documents. She quickly recorded pertinent data and handed the documents back to them. She assured them she would contact them as soon as she had additional information. As they walked back to their cars, Igancio commented to Fernando. “Creo que deberíamos quedarnos en el hotel. No quiero fallar esta oportunidad. Tenemos que hablar con la señora el momento que ella llama. Por supuesto hay otros que quieren tomar el mismo barco.” Ignacio suggested that they remain in the hotel. They couldn’t afford to miss the call from the lady in the port office. He felt there were certainly other people who were trying to take the same ship. After an early lunch in the hotel, they remained in the lobby. They had advised the concierge that they were expecting an important phone call. Rafael and Luciano were excited at the prospect of crossing the Atlantic on a freighter, their sisters and parents less so. They joked about an adventure similar to the serial adventure stories so popular at American movie theaters. At shortly after four o’clock in the afternoon, the concierge approached them. A woman had called, asking for either Señor Suárez or Señor Prendes. Fernando and Ignacio rushed to the telephone booth; the concierge would transfer the call there. Their contact at the port informed them the captain wanted to meet them at the hotel to discuss specific arrangements. This, of course, meant the price. Fernando and Ignacio agreed. The captain would be at the hotel at six o’clock in the evening. At six o’clock sharp, a rather large, burly man walked into the hotel lobby. He appeared to be about the same age as Fernando and Ignacio, in his early fifties. There was no doubt that he was a ship’s captain. He looked like the Hollywood central casting version of a seafarer, complete with a navy blue wool cap. As Fernando and Ignacio approached him, he extended his right hand in greeting. “My name is Aaron Winchester. I’m the captain of the freighter “Phoenix”. Good to meet you gentlemen. I hear you need to get to New York. Let’s talk.” Fernando, in his broken English, introduced Ignacio and himself to Aaron. He then suggested that Luciano serve as a translator, in order to avoid any miscommunication. The captain agreed. After more introductions, they took their seats and began negotiations. The captain listened intently to the Tampanians’ tale of woe. He also asked about their backgrounds, curious about how they had ended up in Tampa. Surprisingly, he agreed to transport them for a fee that was quite reasonable. It seemed that his bark was worse than his bite. Beneath his gruff exterior there was empathy for their situation. He asked to view their documents. After a few minutes he handed them back and welcomed them “on board” the “Phoenix”. Fernando invited Captain Winchester to have dinner with them. He accepted their offer. The dinner conversation was intriguing. Aaron explained that he had been born and raised in Amarillo, Texas. This was about as far from an ocean one can be in the U.S.A. An explorer by heart, he left home at the age of 16, riding the rails to California. His love affair with the sea began the moment he got his first view of the Pacific Ocean in San Francisco. After years as a stevedore on the docks of that city, he became a crew member, eventually working his way up to captain. It was apparent that he identified closely with Fernando and Ignacio. He told them that he understood the need to uproot one's self in pursuit of a better life. He championed the cause of the common man. After several hours of dinner and coffee, and engaging conversation, Captain Winchester excused himself. He thanked the Tampanians for their hospitality, and reminded them to be at the port office on Sunday morning at 7:30 a.m. “Zapato, no solo hemos encontrado pasaje a los estado unidos, creo que también hemos encontrado un buen amigo. Quizás no hay un mal que por bien no venga?” Fernando commented to Ignacio that not only had they found passage to the United States, but he thought they had also found a good friend. He added that perhaps some good can always be found in something bad. Sunday morning dawned particularly sunny and warm. Fernando considered this a good omen for the first day of their return trip to the U.S.A. He and Ignacio had spent the previous two days arranging a wire transfer of the money to pay Captain Winchester. They arrived at the port office at 6:55 a.m., thirty-five minutes early. Rufino and Serafín assisted them in arranging their luggage near the main entrance; surprisingly, they were the only ones there. Fernando turned toward the two drivers. "Caballeros, tanto lo agradecemos lo que han hecho para nosotros. Por favor, que tengan un viaje a Oviedo sin problemas ningunos. Esperamos que las cosas mejoren en España." Fernando thanked them for all they did to assist them. He wished them a return trip to Oviedo without any problems, and hoped that the situation in Spain would improve. Fernando and Ignacio paid them the amount they had agreed upon, plus a bit extra. The two drivers were visibly moved, hugging and kissing each of the Tampeños. They shared a bond that was forged by adversity and danger. A few minutes before 7:30 a.m. the agent with whom they had dealt opened the doors. By now, there were several more small groups in line. She escorted the Tampeños to a desk located toward the rear of the large office. She quickly inspected their documents, making entries in a large book. Smiling, she returned their papers, along with their "tickets", which were merely letters typed on the Port of Vigo stationery, stamped with an official looking seal. "Todo en orden, gracias. Su barco, el "Phoenix", saldrá a las once de la mañana, con la marea alta. Pagan al Capitán Winchester cuando lleguéis al barco. Os llevamos ahora en unos minutos." The agent explained that all documents were in order and their ship would leave at 11:00 a.m., with the high tide. They were to pay Captain Winchester when they arrived at the ship. They would be taken to the ship in a few minutes. The agent escorted them out of the office, pointing to an open area a short distance away. They would be picked up there and driven to their ship. They thanked her, shaking her hand. Rufino and Serafín assisted them in moving their belongings to the area indicated by the agent. Within a few minutes a rather large van stopped next to the Tampeños. The driver got off the vehicle and introduced himself as Manolo. He verified they were booked on the “Phoenix” and began loading their baggage. Serafín and Rufino said their final goodbyes and departed. Manolo helped the travelers into the van. Basically a cargo vehicle, it had been outfitted with crude benches for passengers. Vigo was a large port and the "Phoenix" was docked quite a distance away, too far to walk. The van proceeded very slowly. After a few minutes the van stopped at a military checkpoint prior to entering the dock areas. The passengers were asked to get out of the vehicle and have their papers ready for inspection. Thankfully, the process was uneventful and anticlimactic. The officer was polite and wished them a safe trip home. Fernando and Ignacio expressed relief at passing this final hurdle. After another few minutes the van stopped again. Manolo spoke to the Tampeños. "Bueno, aquí estamos. Su barco os espera." He said they had arrived and their ship awaits them. As the two families exited the van, Captain Winchester greeted them with a smile. "Greetings! We couldn't have a nicer day to set sail. I expect a smooth ride out of the harbor." The captain's words were reassuring. He escorted the Tampeños onto the ship and gave them a tour. The "Phoenix" was a medium-sized freighter, and relatively new. Their cabins were spartan, but more than adequate. They would occupy four cabins; the two boys would share, as would the two daughters. They could choose to eat with the crew or separately. They chose to eat with the crew, much to Captain Winchester's delight. Luciano was completely intrigued with the ship's bridge, the room from which the ship is commanded. The captain assured him he could observe the process as much as he would like. Luciano was secretly grateful for the outbreak of the war, something he wasn't willing to share with the others. Fernando and Ignacio paid Captain Winchester their fare, handing him an envelope with cash. He thanked them and said he would leave them to get settled in their cabins. They would depart in two hours. At precisely 11:00 a.m. the "Phoenix" sounded three short blasts of her horn. The ship began to move slowly as two tugboats nudged her away from the dock. The Prendes and Suárez males, at the invitation of Captain Winchester, were gathered on the bridge. The women declined, choosing to relax on deck on chaise lounges provided by the crew. Luciano could hardly contain himself, asking a myriad of questions faster than anyone could answer them. Fernando moved toward his son. "Hijo, por favor. Deja que Capitán Winchester haga su trabajo, después quizás él puede hablar contigo." Fernando cautioned his son to save his questions for later and let Captain Winchester do his job. The affable captain smiled, glancing toward Luciano. He continued explaining what was happening. "This gentleman next to me is a harbor pilot. Major ports require that someone intimately familiar with a particular port command the ship into and out of the harbor. Depending on the specific geography, they are in charge of driving the ship a certain distance into the open sea. Vigo is a challenging port, with a very rocky coastline and strong currents. This gentleman will be in charge until we are well into open seas." Captain Winchester stepped back and joined the visitors. Luciano couldn't absorb all this fast enough. After almost one hour of slowly maneuvering through the harbor, the ship passed the entrance to the port. The harbor pilot shook Captain Winchester's hand, and stepped aside. The captain took over the controls. The men watched as the harbor pilot descended a ladder and stepped onto a tugboat that was running parallel to the huge freighter. As the tugboat pulled away, Captain Winchester sounded three blasts of "Phoenix's" horn, the traditional final "thank you" to the harbor pilot. Luciano was enthralled by both the science and the ritual of what he was seeing. Captain Winchester issued orders to the engine room. Their speed increased quickly as the ship turned toward the northwest. He then turned toward the Tampeños. "Next stop, New York harbor! Gentlemen, take a turn." The captain gestured to the men to take turns at the wheel. Luciano, never shy, quickly grabbed the controls. After a few minutes, he reluctantly allowed the others to share in this incredible adventure. It appeared Luciano would be spending most of the trip in the bridge. Captain Winchester and the crew were most accommodating to the Suárez and Prendes families. Meals were incredibly good, and dinner conversation was lively and engaging. Luciano and Rafael especially enjoyed the mariners' tales of adventure in various exotic ports. The boys felt as if they were living a serial from Saturday afternoons at the movies. Time was passing more quickly than expected. The weather had been cooperative and the "Phoenix" was a bit ahead of schedule. In the afternoon of the fourth day, Captain Winchester asked Fernando to join him for a cup of coffee in his room. Initially concerned that something was amiss, Fernando was more than relieved when the captain revealed what was on his mind. The proud father listened intently as Captain Winchester, speaking slowly, explained how impressed he was with Luciano. The young man's ability to grasp the basics of navigation was astounding. Fernando was aware that his son was excelling academically but hearing this from the captain was rather unexpected. The captain concluded by suggesting that Fernando should encourage Luciano to pursue an education beyond high school. Fernando thanked Captain Winchester for his kind words and encouragement. At dinner of their sixth and final night at sea, Captain Winchester announced they would be arriving in New York the next morning. The exact time depended on the amount of maritime traffic and exact sea conditions, but they should be prepared to disembark by 9:00 a.m. at the earliest. Fernando had contacted a few Spanish friends in New York who were involved in the cigar business. They were buyers and distributors who regularly visited Tampa when Fernando was employed at Sanchez y Haya. He hoped they could recommend a hotel in New York. The Alonso and Cuesta families had insisted on hosting the Tampeños until they could arrange transportation back to Tampa. None of the Tampeños had been to New York before, and they welcomed their hospitality in such a large and fast-paced city. Their host families lived in the West Side of Manhattan, in an area known as "Little Spain". This neighborhood, centered around 14th St. between 7th Ave. and 8th Ave., was home to about 15,000 Spaniards and was the center of Spanish life in the Greater New York area. Because of the cigar industry, there were strong connections between the Spanish communities of Tampa and New York. The "Phoenix" would be docking at the wharves of the lower east side, where they would be met. The Tampeños awoke early the next morning and prepared for their arrival. From the decks of the ship, land was now visible as they paralleled the coast of Long Island toward the Port of New York. Luciano had been in the bridge with Captain Winchester since 5:00 a.m., not wanting to miss a thing. Just before 8:00 a.m. the ship slowed noticeably as the harbor pilot climbed aboard. As the "Phoenix" gradually turned to the right, the skyline of New York was clearly visible. The Tampeños could hardly believe their eyes. Awe turned to raw emotion as they caught their first view of the Statue of Liberty. They were grateful to be "home". Chapter Fifty Click Here For Part Five