Little Havana in Miami in Miami-Dade County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Nestor Izquierdo Plaza
At the Cuban Memorial Boulevard Park
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, March 7, 2026
1. Nestor Izquierdo Plaza at the Cuban Memorial Boulevard Park Marker
[English:]
This memorial was built an homage to Nestor Antonio “Tony” Izquierdo, a great fighter for the freedom of the United States and for the freedom of Cuba and who died on June 10, 1979, in a plane crash in Nicaragua where he was fighting against the communist Sandinista guerrilla. He was 43 years old. Izquierdo was born in the Matanzas province of Cuba in 1936. A devoted Roman Catholic, as a young man, Nestor collaborated with his father in a construction business. In 1960 Izquierdo left Cuba and entered the United States via Mexico. He then contributed to establishing the Movement for the Recovery of the Revolution (MRR) party to fight against the Castro-Communist regime in Cuba.
Izquierdo also participated in the ill-fated Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in 1961. Part of a group that infiltrated Cuba before the invasion, he escaped the island through the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo after the invasion failed. He eventually settled in Miami, continuing his restless fight against totalitarianism around the world during the Cold War era. In the early 1960’s, he also participated in many aggressive and successful raids against Castro’s army. Izquierdo also was part of the Golden Hawks Parachute Demonstration Team.
Izquierdo was held in high regard by his fellow Cubans and everyone else he worked with due to his affable character and for his radiant personality. Izquierdo was well known for his contagious optimism about fighting tyranny and the freedom of his homeland, fore ever to be defended and held.
Este monumento se construyó en homenaje a Néstor Antonio «Tony» Izquierdo, gran luchador por la libertad de Estados Unidos y de Cuba, quien falleció el 10 de junio de 1979 en un accidente aéreo en Nicaragua, donde luchaba contra la guerrilla sandinista comunista. Tenía 43 años. Izquierdo nació en la provincia cubana de Matanzas en 1936. Devoto católico, de joven colaboró con su padre en una empresa de construcción. En 1960, Izquierdo salió de Cuba y entró en Estados Unidos vía México. Posteriormente, contribuyó a la fundación del Movimiento para la Recuperación de la Revolución (MRR) para luchar contra el régimen castrocomunista en Cuba.
Izquierdo también participó en la desafortunada invasión de Bahía de Cochinos en 1961. Formaba parte de un grupo que se infiltró en Cuba antes de la invasión y, tras el fracaso de la misma, escapó de la isla a través de la base naval estadounidense de Guantánamo. Finalmente se estableció en Miami, donde continuó su incansable lucha contra el totalitarismo en todo el mundo durante la Guerra Fría. A principios de la década de 1960, también participó en numerosas y exitosas incursiones contra el ejército de Castro. Izquierdo también formó parte del Equipo de Demostración de Paracaidistas Golden Hawks.
Izquierdo era muy respetado por sus compatriotas cubanos y todos los que trabajaban con él debido a su carácter afable y su radiante personalidad. Izquierdo era conocido por su contagioso optimismo en la lucha contra la tiranía y la libertad de su patria, que debe ser defendida y preservada para siempre.
Erected 2025
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Hispanic Americans • Patriots & Patriotism • War, Cold. A significant historical date for this entry is June 10, 1979.
Location. 25° 45.929′ N, 80° 12.986′ W. Marker is in Miami, Florida, in Miami-Dade County. It is in Little Havana. It can be reached from the intersection of Southwest 13th Avenue and Southwest 8th Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 801825 SW 13th Ave, Miami FL 33135, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in South Florida and on the Gold Coast. It is also in the American South and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A la lucha guerrillera anticomunista / To the Anti-Communist Guerrilla
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, March 7, 2026
2. Nestor Izquierdo Plaza at the Cuban Memorial Boulevard Park Marker
The marker is at the base of the sculpture of what is now Nestor Izquierdo Plaza. A plaza has been added as part of a renovation.
Other markers no longer nearby. Nestor A. Izquierdo (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Memorial to the Fallen of Cuban Liberation (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); José Martí (was about 400 feet away but has been permanently removed); General Antonio Maceo (was about 500 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, March 7, 2026
3. Nestor Izquierdo Plaza
The rear of the statue, looking north from Nestor Izquierdo Plaza to Calle Ocho. A silhouette of an anti-Communist guerrilla was added in 2021.
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, March 7, 2026
4. Nestor Izquierdo
The sculpture of Nestor Antonio "Tony" Izquierdo, by artist Tony Lopez.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 15, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 32 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 15, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
