Resettlement re-cap: a periodic report from the Cuban Refugee Center, June 1969

              SPONSOR CUBAN REFUGEES
Fullfjll Their Faith in Freedom
JUNE, 1969
RESETTLEMENT RE-CAP
FOR   ADMINISTRATIVE   USE
A PERIODIC REPORT FROM CUBAN REFUGEE CENTER — FREEDOM TOWER, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33101
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
SOCIAL AND REHABILITATION SERVICE
U.S. CUBAN REFUGEE PROGRAM HOWARD H. PALMATIER, Director, Washington, D.C.
ERROL T. BALLANFONTE, Director of Center HARRY B. LYFORD, Editor    ,
REFUGEE COBBLES HIS FAMILY !S WAY OUT OF CUBA BY MAKING THE SHOES REQUIRED FOR CHILDREN fS EXIT
You might say Rene Ortega cobbled his family's way out of
Cuba -- that is, he made shoes for his children so they would
be properly shod for the trip to the U.S.  The Oregon JOURNAL,
Portland, Ore., tells it this way:
"No shoes are available for the poor people of Cuba, Mrs.
Ortega said.  She said her husband made shoes for the smaller
children, because 'We could not afford to buy any.'  The older boy, Rene, has to wear orthopedic shoes because of a foot
deformity, but it took hours of standing in line to get a pair.
'Ironically,' she said, 'children must wear shoes when they
leave the country, and there are no shoes available.  I guess
that's one way Castro has figured to keep them from leaving
the country. "'
With the help of the U.S. Catholic Conference and related
agencies, the Ortegas were able to reach the U.S. after a 7-
year wait.  In .Portland the family joined Mr. Ortega's sister,
Mrs. Rafael Cancio, and family.  Her husband is a partner in
a building maintenance service and the Cancio family is one of
the Cuban refugee families honored earlier this year by a Jose
Marti award, given by the Cuban Refugee Program in recognition
of successful resettlement.  Mrs. Ortega was a fourth grade
school teacher before the Castro regime.
"Father, The Emergency Shoemaker" could be the title
of this family picture of the Rene Ortega family,
now in Portland, Oregon. The father is shown holding a pair of shoes he made in order to qualify his
children for exit from Cuba. With their parents
are, left to right: Rene, Jr., aged 8, Roldolfo 4,
and Diana 12. -- Photo Courtesy Portland, Oregon,
JOURNAL.
"We are most grateful to our relatives in Portland and to
the resettlement people of Catholic Charities for making us feel at home, and wanted," the newspaper writer,
John McWilliams, quotes Mrs. Ortega.  The" writer continues:  "For the sake of those they left behind, the Ortegas said they are praying that Castro's 10-million-ton sugar quota is met in time 'so our friends and all Cubans back in our homeland can celebrate Christmas at the right time.'" The family explained what they meant
(See Page 3 For Conclusion)
HOWARD H. PALMATIER, NEW DIRECTOR, ASKS CONTINUING COOPERATION
"Cooperation of the American public in helping Cuban refugees adjust to new lives in the
U.S. is important today -- actually more important than it was when the Cuban Refugee Program
began, over eight years ago." Directing his statement to citizens who have been of significant help in refugee resettlement activities, as well as to many more who now, and in the
future, can share in this nationwide undertaking, Howard H. Palmatier today speaks asjthe Director of the Cuban Refugee Program. This title comes to him through recent appointment by
Robert H. Finch, Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. Mr. Palmatier, with the Program since 1963, previously had the title of Deputy Director.
Pointing out that as long as the U.S.-sponsored airlift from Cuba continues the Cuban Refugee Program has responsibility to provide exiles with the benefits of the Program, Director
Palmatier urges no lessening of assistances to resettled refugees on the part of churches, organizations, business and industry, and individuals who have civic and social service interests. The need for Cubans already here to help Cuban newcomers also must be emphasized, he
said, in view of the fact that by airlift only relatives may come to relatives in this family
reunion phase of the Program.
MR. PALMATIER
"Our friendly neighbors, the Cuban refugees,have proved themselves worthy of our assistance," said Mr. Palmatier.  "Americans have shown the heart of our free nation by helping them reestablish themselves here.  This is
in line with our national tradition of welcoming the oppressed.  What finer people-to-people activity for human
understanding can there be?  Every community finds in this welcoming activity a feeling of reward and benefit."
Mr. Palmatier
World War II.
was formerly with the  Department of State.   His work with refugees  dates from the close of
CUBANS HELPING CUBANS
A TOP NEED IN THE FAMILY REUNION PHASE OF THE CUBAN REFUGEE PROGRAM!