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Ramón Emeterio Betances
Born April 8, 1827 in Cabo Rojo. Died September 18, 1898 in Nevilly, France and is remains returned to Puerto Rico in 1920 where they were buried in his birthplace. Known as the "Father of the Puerto Rican Nation," Betances was a physician, abolitionist, writer, and revolutionary who fought for Puerto Rico's independence and the abolition of slavery. He remains one of the island's most influential historical figures.
He received his primary and secondary education in private schools. His mother died when he was young and his father sent him to France. After receiving his medical degree from the University of Paris in 1855, Betances returned to Puerto Rico and founded a hospital and worked to save Puerto Ricans from the ravages of a cholera epidemic. He also founded a clandestine society dedicated to the liberation of the slaves. The Spanish colonial government exiled him for these activities several times. In 1867, he fled to the present-day Dominican Republic where he founded the Revolutionary Committee of Puerto Rico. The following year he organized an armed expedition that led to the abortive insurrection of September 23, known as the Grito de Lares. When the insurrection failed Betances went back to Paris where he dedicated to work for the independence of Puerto Rico. His works "La Viérge de Borinquen" (1859) and "Les Voyages de Scaldado" (1890), written in French, and "La Botijuela" (1863), in Spanish, symbolically portrayed the political aspirations of Puerto Rico during this period. Although he spent his remaining years away from his homeland, he viewed the abolition of slavery there on March 22, 1873 with great satisfaction. For his contributions to literature, the French government awarded him its Legion of Honor.
Mariana Bracetti
Known as the "Brazo de Oro" (Golden Arm), Mariana Bracetti is credited with knitting the revolutionary flag used during the Grito de Lares uprising in 1868.
Although born in Añasco is sometimes debated, she is closely associated with the municipality and remains one of Puerto Rico's most celebrated patriots.
The flag was considered a symbol of revolution and a call to overthrow the Spanish government on the island and establish a sovereign republic. On September 23, 1868, the flag was flown on the Lares church during a revolt, later known as the Grito de Lares. The flag was designed by Dr. Ramón Emeterio Betances. Many years later, in 1952, the flag's design was adopted as the official flag of Lares. The flag was divided in the middle by a white cross. The two lower corners were red and the two upper corners were blue. There was a white star in the upper left blue corner. Mariana Bracetti died in Añasco in 1903 and was buried in the Plaza of Añasco. There is a monument honoring her on the spot where she is buried.
