The Cultural Affairs Committee presented attorney and author Christina Diaz Gonzalez, who spoke about her books at Town Hall on Sept. 4. Her novel for young readers, “The Red Umbrella,” is based on her family’s experience during Operation Pedro Pan.
It was an exodus of more than 14,000 children who were sent alone in the early 1960s from Cuba to the United States by families who wanted to protect them from the communist Castro regime.
The topic was of interest to area residents who flew aboard Pedro Pan flights that were sponsored by the Catholic church and Catholic Charities.
Shown in the top photo, from left are Pedro Pan kids Maggie Senra of Miami Lakes, who arrived Sept. 15, 1962 when she was 15 years old; Delia Pella Portela of Pembroke Pines who flew to the U.S. on Nov. 6, 1960 when she was 10 years old; Elsa Isla Reus of Hialeah Gardens, who was 10 when she arrived July 11, 1961; Miriam Bello Duman of Miami Lakes, who came here Jan. 2, 1962 when she was 12 years old and Olivia Gonzalez of Coral Gables, who was 17 when she arrived July 11, 1962, all according to Reus.
Newly arrived kids lived in camps, relatives took them in or foster families housed them.
About 50 people attended the book talk. Diaz Gonzalez described how she develops characters and why she chooses the voice that will tell the story, Reus said.
She also autographed books for audience members. Miami Lakes AutoMall, Vicky Bakery and the Duman Family sponsored the evening.