Both Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Primer Minister Manuel Marrero evoked her revolutionary past. “Our fond memories go to the heroine of the mountains and the plains, founder of the Women Revolution within the Revolution”, the Head of State wrote in Twitter.

Marrero expressed also in Twitter that Vilma, as she was friendly called, is admired and loved by the people for devoting her life to the service of the Revolution and the empowerment of women.

Espin was a member of the July 26 Movement, a fighter in the eastern Sierra Maestra mountain range along with the historic leader Fidel Castro in the struggle against the Fulgencio Batista dictatorship (1952-1958).

Under the nom de guerre Deborah, she was a notable clandestine fighter, especially during the November 30, 1956, uprising in eastern Santiago de Cuba province.

Espin joined the Rebel Army in 1958, where she continued to excel in the clandestine movement and her actions in the Frank País Second Eastern Front.

After the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959, she worked to guarantee the emancipation of women until she founded the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) on August 23, 1960, of which she was its president.

Espin, who passed away in June 2007, was also the partner in life of Army General Raul Castro who was Defense minister and later president.

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