Lizbet Martinez

Lizbet Martinez
Born Lizbet Martinez
1982 (age 32)
Cuba
Nationality Cuban
Alma mater Florida International University
Occupation Elementary English educator
Known for playing The Star Spangled Banner after being rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard

Lizbet Martinez is a Cuban violinist and English teacher at M.A. Milam K-8 Center.[1]

During the ""balsero crisis" of 1994, over 30,000 Cubans immigrated to the United States from Cuba on rafts.[2] Seen as a symbol of the balsero exodus, Martinez first became known on August 21, 1994 as a 12-year old rafter from Cuba.[3][4]This was when the U.S. Coast Guard picked her and her family out of her raft.[5][6] The Coast Guard wanted to take her violin because they thought the case might contain a weapon. She then opened the case and started to play The Star Spangled Banner on her violin.[7] She spent five months at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base before being relocated to Miami.[8][9]

Martinez attended Florida International University, earning a degree as a violin soloist.[2] At her graduation at Florida International University she played the anthem in front of her fellow graduates to kick off the university's commencement ceremony.[10] Martinez later played on her violin in front of United States Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.[8][11][12] Martinez also performed alongside Gloria Estefan and Jon Secada.[13]

She later became a teacher at Emerson Elementary, before teaching at M.A. Milam K-8 Center.[14][1] She taught music, until budget cuts took away Milam's music program, leading her to teach English. Martinez is also married and has two children.[2] Martinez was also featured in the film Voices from Cuba.[15] After 20 years passed since Martinez emigrated from Cuba, a follow-up article was published about the situation.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hank Tester (September 23, 2010). "All Grown Up: The Face of the Cuban Rafter Crisis". NBC Miami. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Torres, Nora Gámez (August 31, 2014). "Young Cuban rafter who played Star-Spangled Banner on boat is now a mom and teacher in Hialeah". Miami Herald. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  3. ↑ Santiago, Fabiola (August 18, 2014). "20 years ago, 35,000 'balseros' fled Castro's Cuba on anything that would float". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  4. ↑ "In their own words ...". The Free Library. January 1, 2004. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Congressional members want White House to address Cuban issues". Savannah Now. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Violin remains key part of refugee's life". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. December 17, 2003. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  7. ↑ Myriam Marquez (November 7, 1994). "Cuban Refugees At Guantanamo Caught In Web Of Hopelessness". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Tom Zucco (December 16, 2003). "Humble violin gave voice to her future". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  9. ↑ Phil Davison (February 8, 1995). "Cuban `angel' tries to save refugees". The Independent. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
  10. ↑ Madeline BarM-s Diaz (December 17, 2003). "A Star-spangled Performance". The Sun Sentinel. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  11. ↑ Paul Richter (March 31, 1995). "For Growing States, GOP Block Grants 'May Be a Trap,' Clinton Says". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  12. ↑ Tom Kelly (April 14, 1995). "With Violin Music In The Background, Florida's Immigration Debate Begins". The Sun Sentinel. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
  13. ↑ Myriam Marquez (May 23, 2001). "Between Reagan Redux And A Post-elian Reality". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  14. ↑ Daniela Lamas (September 15, 2003). "From Cuba, with her treasured strings attached". Cuba News. Yahoo! Groups. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  15. ↑ "The Voices". Voices from Cuba. Retrieved October 12, 2013.