February 24 of 1895 was once again celebrated yesterday, the date the Necessary War summoned by José Martí was launched, with all and for the good of all, with a shouts of Homeland or Death resounding alongside the mausoleum where the remains of Cuba’s national hero rest.
 
With this refrain ended the tribute that included the delivery of floral wreaths on behalf of the first secretary of the Party Central Committee, Army General Raul Castro Ruz, and President of the Republic, Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, placed next to the tomb covered by a Cuban flag.
 
Earlier in the day, Diaz-Canel tweeted: "It is February 24, a day to retell and sing history. Martí said, “By loving past glories we draw strength to win new glories." Homeland or Death, beloved Cuba. Only those who cast aside your light and essences can deny the honorable sacrifice of devoting their lives to you. What an honor to serve you in difficult times!”
 
Flowers on behalf of the president of the National Assembly of People's Power, Esteban Lazo Hernandez, and the people of Cuba, were also placed alongside the monument graves of Fidel, Cespedes and Mariana, in Santiago de Cuba’s patrimonial Santa Ifigenia Cemetery, where a representative group of the city’s citizens, with fists raised, shouted Homeland or Death, reaffirming the determination of Cubans to defend our homeland against aggressive mercenaries of all stripes.
 
A commemoration of the resumption of the independence struggle also took place in Baire, in the municipality of Contramaestre, the site of one of the more than 30 coordinated uprisings which took place that day to challenge the Spanish colonial yoke.
 
Another important commemoration took place at the University of Havana, on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the public emergence of the Revolutionary Directorate, led by student leader José Antonio Echeverría, in the Aula Magna, where the insurrectional organization of Cuban students was born.
 
February 24, 2021, culminated with multiple cultural initiatives - in appropriate small group events and via social networks - honoring Martí, Cuba´s independence struggle, and the defense of the homeland through theater, song, poetry, exhibitions, and music.