Sancti Spíritus, July 26 (RHC)-- The 71st anniversary of the historic assault on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Cespedes garrisons is being celebrated in Sancti Spíritus.

The main activity got underway at 5:30 a.m. on Friday morning.  The early hour was chosen due to the extremely hot weather Cuba has been experiencing -- so that the event, with thousands in attendance, would be at a confortable hour of the day.

On this date in 1953, 135 revolutionaries under the leadership of a young lawyer by the name of Fidel Castro, attacked the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Cespedes garrisons in Santiago de Cuba and Bayamo in eastern Cuba.  The attacks were a military defeat for the revolutionaries, but they later turned that defeat into victory with the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, 5 years, 5 months and 5 days later -- on January 1st 1959.  

The rebel movement -- the July 26th movement -- took its name from this important, heroic date.

On hand were leaders of the Cuban government and Communist Party of Cuba, including President Miguel Diaz-Canel and General of the Army Raul Castro Ruz.  

Today we celebrate the 71st anniversary of the attack that sparked the Cuban Revolution. 

The celebration of July 26th constitutes, as always, a moment of revolutionary reaffirmation and of special impetus to the economic, social and defense tasks carried out by our people, aware that it is the best tribute to our undefeated Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution.