Odalys Márquez was in Guantánamo in 1994. She and her family had left Matanzas on August 23, about an hour before midnight, and after testing the boat for a couple of hours and making sure it worked. They left from the Versailles bridge, and as they navigated out, they saw people were on other bridges waving them goodbyes and wishing then good luck. The U.S. Coast Guard picked them up at sea on the following day, 35 miles from U.S. shores. They were then transferred to Guantánamo, where they arrived on August 26th, 1994, at 4:30am. In the images below, she appears with her mother, her sons, her sister-in-law and her two nephews. Many of her images focused on the the children, to show their hope and the love that families were able to surround them with, despite the difficult conditions at the camps. Because of the health of her younger child, they were able to leave early. The were flown to Homestead, in Dade County, on November 28th, 1994, where they were processed into the United States. She has never regretted it. [All photos by Odalys Márquez]
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- My mother Sara Valdes with my older son, Noelito (11 years old) and myself, Odalys Márquez. Even after visiting the United States on three occasions and finally visiting with us [at Guantanamo Bay] she never wanted to stay.
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- My son, Raul, and I on our last day in the Romeo camp. This woman [(the soldier)] cared for him a lot and was very good to us.
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- Raulito speaking with our family in Miami.
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- Raul taking a bath in the wash facilities with Yoel.
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- My sons with friends from the camp. All of us were from Matanzas.
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- The men who put the dirty bathrooms in order were always attentive with Raul. They always brought him something to make him smile.
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- Raulito and Brenda—who was also our friend on this journey.
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- My sons, their cousin and his mother Marie Chaviano.
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- My son Noelito and a friend playing with received donations.
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- My sons with friends in the camp.
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- My sons Noelito and Raulito with their cousin Luis Alberto Marquez.
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- Here I am with my nephew Iosmany Marquez, another really nice young man, as well as my sister-in-law Patricia and her son, my nephew, Alberto Marquez.
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- On this day the baseball player [José] Canseco brought toys to all of the children. I am here with my son Raul Garcia (5 years old), my sister-in-law Patricia Morales and her grandson (1 year and 5 months old).
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- My mother with her great-grandson, Luis Alberto.
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- This photo was taken during our consultation in the military hospital. This was in preparation for Raul, with respect to his condition of Downs Syndrome, leaving for the United States.
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