Maximo Alvarez
On March 17, 2026, the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC) presented the Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom to Maximo Alvarez at the Freedom Tower in Miami, Florida. A Pedro Pan child, Alvarez is one of more than 14,000 unaccompanied minors who escaped Castro’s oppression and embraced the American dream through a program ran by the Catholic Welfare Bureau and Monsignor Bryan O. Walsh. The medal recognizes Alvarez’s lifelong fight against communism in his native Cuba and his steadfast support of freedom in his adopted home of America.
The Freedom Tower at Miami Dade College was the ideal venue for this important event as it holds profound symbolic significance as a beacon of hope for those who have fled tyranny. From 1962 to 1974, the building served as the Cuban Refugee Center, assisting hundreds of thousands of Cubans seeking asylum in the United States.
The award was presented to Alvarez by Dr. Elizabeth Edwards Spalding, Chairman of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, and Founding Director of the VOC Museum. Dr. Spalding explained that “using his talents and education from the Pedro Pan miracle, Max raised a family with his wonderful wife Esther, worked hard, and built a thriving petroleum business, embodying the immigrant success story.” Dr. Spalding continued, saying that “Time and again, Alvarez has contributed to civil society and model citizenship through his leadership as an entrepreneur, through his generosity as a philanthropist, and through his participation in politics…Max makes our country better. He knows that freedom is precious and fragile, and must be appreciated, defended, and taught anew, every day and each generation.”
At the ceremony, Amb. Carlos Trujillo, VOC Trustee and former Ambassador to the Organization of American States, remarked that “Max will tell you he had no business coming to the United States. He was in Cuba with his family, and his brother was killed. It destroyed his family and his mother, and they decided to send him to this country. Against all odds, not only does he make it to the United States, but he thrives.”
Miami Dade College President Madeline Pumariega highlighted Alvarez’s impact on America’s rising generations. As she explained, “We turn to Max’s story to remind every 14-year-old to never stop dreaming, to never stop being grateful, to never stop believing in God, to lean on family, and to always fight for freedom.”
Accepting the Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom, Maximo Alvarez said, “Events like this really make me understand how blessed we are in this great country of ours, the most generous country in the world. The reason why I am a member of this great organization is not just to mourn those people who have lost their lives by the hands of communist governments, but it is to remind the entire world that we must not forget. The next generation needs to understand what they have suffered.” Alvarez continued, emphasizing that “I am Cuban. I love Cuba. I want Cuba to be free. But I love America because I am an American.”
Remarks from Florida Senator Rick Scott and Senator Ashley Moody were read at the ceremony and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis sent his congratulations. Marcell Felipe, Trustee of Miami Dade College and Chairman of the American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora, also offered praise of Alvarez and offered insights into his pivotal role in ensuring Americans learn the truth about communism.
You can watch the full event here and learn more about Maximo Alvarez’s story of courage, liberty, and anticommunism in VOC’s Witness Project documentary series.
