Museo Memorial Mártires de Barbados
By  Juan E. Batista Cruz

The Museo Memorial Mártires de Barbados is an institution dedicated to honor  the victims of the criminal midair bombing of a Cubana airplane on October 6th, 1976.

Seventy-three people lost their lives as consequence of this unjustified and savage act, most of which were members of the Cuban Fencing Team, who had won all the gold medals at the Central American Tournament held in Venezuela.

Two Las Tunas-born youths were members of the group of eternal champions: Carlos M. Leyva González and  Leonardo McKenzie Grant.

Carlos Leyva was born and lived in a two-storey wooden  house, located on 344 Lucas Ortiz Street. The provincial authorities, headed by Comandante Faure Chomón Mediavilla, decided to turn the house into a site for permanent homage to the victims of the horrendous crime.

The dwelling was fully remodelled  and on July 2nd, 1977, it opened as Museo Memorial Mártires de Barbados -- a museum storing documents, photos, sports implements belonging to all the victims, and especially to the two youths of Las Tunas.