América Arias López

América Arias was born into a distinguished family of comfortable means. She married early to José Miguel Gómez, who from a very young age was a Commander, having fought against the Spanish during the Ten Years' War.

América Arias followed the libertarian sentiments of her family and her husband and when the Little War began and then the War of Independence in 1895, she became a powerful auxiliary to her husband, was a confidante of the mambises, and provided valuable and varied services to the cause of Cubans who fought in the fields of redemption, actively participating as a nurse, courier and messenger, and eventually reached the rank of Captain of the Liberation Army.

Doña América was strong, sweet and simple, affectionate and very cordial, and she inspired great respect nonetheless, she was neither ambitious nor did she love luxury, nor did she place money above the noble qualities of the spirit. She was brunette, with penetrating but kind eyes. She had very clear understanding, as was said back then of a solid intelligence. Of medium height and well-rounded, as befitted an authentic Creole, she must have been very attractive in her youth.

América Arias, an extraordinarily pious woman, not only provided services to the revolution, but also maintained close relations with the poor families of her native land who, like her, had their men in the war, and she helped them by facilitating the means to sustain their lives more easily, sparing them from misery when possible.

América Arias became the bond of union between those who risked their lives and those who suffered in territory occupied by the Spanish; those men who endured many hardships to give us a homeland; and those women who were persecuted and abused.

The mambises lacked clothing, food; the field hospitals lacked bandages, quinine, disinfectants; they found themselves many times without the most basic necessities to care for the wounded; but what made the insurgents suffer most was the difficulty in communicating with their loved ones, the lack of news from their wives and children, whom they had left exposed to the spite of enemy authorities. And doña América Arias remedied all of that many times.

When the conflict ended, peace was restored, she saw her husband rise to the Presidency of the Republic in the first half of the past century. From this elevated position, América Arias continued helping Cuba, and this illustrious matron was the consolation of many unfortunates.

Many streets, monuments and hospitals perpetuate her memory in our country, which will always mourn such a distinguished woman from Sancti Spíritus who fought so much for the freedoms of our homeland.