Operation Pedro Pan Group, Inc

07/29/2026

ANNOUNCEMENT:
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated for the repose of the soul of Miriam Castro Fernandez on Thursday, August 20th, 2026, at 10 am at Ermita de la Caridad, 3609 S Miami Ave., Miami, Florida 22133. The celebrant will be our Pedro Pan brother Fr. Jose J. Espino, rector of la Ermita.
Board of Directors and Board of Trustees, Operation Pedro Pan Group, Inc.

In memory of our dear Pedro Pan sister and beloved friend Miriam Castro. We give thanks for all the moments we shared and enjoyed together. Your contagious enthusiasm, perennial smile and great generosity will never be forgotten! Love you MIriam!
Board of Directors and Board of Trustees,
Operation Pedro Pan Group, Inc.

07/29/2026

ANNOUNCEMENT:
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated for the repose of the soul of Miriam Castro Fernandez on Thursday, August 20th, 2026, at 10 am at Ermita de la Caridad, 3609 S Miami Ave., Miami, Florida 22133. The celebrant will be our Pedro Pan brother Fr. Jose J. Espino, rector of la Ermita.
Board of Directors and Board of Trustees, Operation Pedro Pan Group, Inc.

OPERATION PEDRO PAN OBITUARY: We are saddened to share the news that our Pedro Pan sister, Miriam Castro Fernandez, passed away on Monday, July 20th, 2026. Miriam arrived as a Pedro Pan on August 2, 1962, first living with relatives in New York before later relocating to Puerto Rico.
Miriam served on the OPPG Board of Directors for four three-year terms, from 2012 to 2018 and again from 2020 to 2026. Throughout those years, she rarely missed a monthly meeting, even while living in Delray Beach. Rain or shine, we could count on Miriam to be there—always bringing her warm smile and steady presence.
Miriam was always eager to take part in our events. We will remember her contagious enthusiasm, including her determination to stay involved even while facing significant health challenges. In June 2025, she traveled with a group of Pedro Pans to Washington, D.C., for the inauguration of our Pedro Pan exhibit at the Victims of Communism Museum. At the beginning of July, when we sent the save-the-date for our Gala, Miriam was the first to reply with her characteristic spirit: “Yo voy!”
Miriam’s outgoing personality, her perennial smile and her generosity made her not only a very special member of our Board but also a dear friend. We are thankful for many beautiful, funny and special moments that we shared with her and will miss her sorely.
Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time. May Miriam rest in peace now and eternal light shine on her!

Ps: To honor her memory we will be posting an album full of beautiful moments with Miriam!

07/04/2026

Happy Birthday to the greatest country in the world, the land that we are blessed to call home after our great fortune of arriving on angel's wings! God Bless America, land of the free, because of the brave!

06/28/2026

2026-6-21 OPPG and Pedro Pan Museum Swearing in and Father's Day Lunch at Casa Juancho.

06/19/2026

Happy Birthday, Monsignor Bryan O. Walsh! You were born on a day like this, June 19. 1930. We give thanks to the Lord for your life, your priestly vocation and specially for your dedication to the Pedro Pan children. Since then you have become our spiritual father and have accompanied us throughout our lives by your example and your love. Thank you from all of us!!

05/23/2026

Mario Manuel de la Peña, a second-generation Pedro Pan, was born on December 28, 1971, in Weehawken, New Jersey. His mother, Miriam Perez Mesa (de la Peña), arrived from Cuba through Operation Pedro Pan in 1962 at the age of 12.
At age 22, Mario joined Brothers to the Rescue in 1994, a nonprofit humanitarian organization dedicated to helping and rescuing Cuban rafters fleeing the island. By the time he turned 24, Mario had flown over one hundred search and rescue missions.
On February 24, 1996, while carrying out one of those search-and-rescue missions in international waters over the Florida Straits, Mario, Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre, Jr., and Pablo Morales were killed under orders from Fidel and Raul Castro as they aided Cubans escaping the same tyranny Miriam had fled 33 years earlier.
The pain of this crime against one of our Legacy Pedro Pan will remain in our hearts forever, but Mario’s story will not be forgotten. On May 20, 2026, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced a formal accusation against Raúl Castro for the murders of the four humanitarians.
The indictment was announced at Miami’s iconic Freedom Tower, “La Torre de la Libertad,” that symbol of the American ideal that we Pedro Pans came in search of is home to Operation Pedro Pan Group, Inc., the Pedro Pan Museum, the Pedro Pan Exhibit, and now, the place where the road to justice for Mario and his fellow patriots was first announced.

05/23/2026

Congratulations to our new 2026-2027 OPPG Board of Directors

Dear Pedro Pan brothers and sisters,
We proudly announce our 2026-2027 OPPG Board of Directors.

Javier Llorens, President
Carmencita Romanach, First Vice President
Graciela Anrrich, Second Vice President
Olivia González, Secretary
Orestes Wrves, Treasurer

We are grateful to Miriam Castro, Eddie Dulom, and Juan Pujol for their dedication and contributions as they finish their terms.
Congratulations to all.
Board of Directors Operation Pedro Pan Group Inc.

05/11/2026

2026 OPPG Breakfast and Tour of the Bay of Pigs Museum.

04/23/2026

We are proud of our OPPG's Trustee and Pedro Pan Museum Chair, and most importantly, Pedro Pan sister Carmen Valdivia. Her dedication and leadership continue to inspire our community.
The recently inaugurated Bay of Pigs Museum stands as a testament to our shared history and commitment to honoring the past. The museum serves as a powerful reminder of the events and individuals that have shaped our community.
Carmen’s passion for history makes her an exceptional Curator for the Exhibit. Her dedication and enthusiasm are evident in every aspect of the museum, from the thoughtfully designed displays to the educational resources available to visitors.
The interactive timeline and carefully restored artifacts reflect Carmen's commitment to bringing history to life for all who visit. Her attention to detail and deep respect for the stories of the past ensure that each exhibit is both engaging and informative, fostering a deeper understanding of our community’s heritage.
Congratulations Carmen! You make us proud!

04/19/2026

We are proud to announce Justice John D. Couriel has been elected to be next Chief Justice of Florida’s Supreme Court.
Justice Couriel is a second generation Pedro Pan that continues our legacy. Justice Couriel’s father is OPPG’s Past President John L. Couriel.
Congratulations to Justice Couriel and his family!

The Florida Supreme Court unanimously elected John D. Couriel as Florida’s next chief justice. He will begin his two-year term July 1. Justice Couriel was appointed to the court in 2020 by Gov. Ron DeSantis. He will succeed Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz, who will remain on the court after complet...