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The Victims of Communism Museum in Washington, D.C, has unveiled a powerful new exhibit honoring Operation Pedro Pan, the largest child refugee movement in the Western Hemisphere. The exhibit marks a significant step in preserving Cuban-American history and commemorates the thousands of children who fled communist Cuba between 1960 and 1962 in search of freedom and safety.
The exhibit opened with a special reception hosted by FIU at its D.C. bureau and brought together Pedro Pan survivors, public officials and cultural leaders to reflect on forced migration and celebrate the resilience of those who lived it.
Bethsy Parajon, one of the Pedro Pan participants, spoke about the emotional weight of seeing the exhibit reach beyond Miami.
“You should learn, and you should learn from what happened to us,” said Parajon. “And it’s real people, and we have made it good, you know, and we have not lost our roots.”
For Parajon and many others, the exhibit is not just historical, it’s deeply personal.
Organizers hope the exhibit helps educate audiences about the dangers of totalitarian regimes, while also highlighting the generosity of the American people who welcomed thousands of Cuban children. As CasaCuba prepares to break ground on its future home at FIU, this exhibit stands as both a reminder of past sacrifices and a symbol of enduring cultural identity.
