HONORING THE 59TH ANNIVERSARY OF MIAMI'S BIG FIVE CLUB

On 2026-10-06, Representative Carlos A. Gimenez (R-FL-28) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING THE 59TH ANNIVERSARY OF MIAMI'S BIG FIVE CLUB" in the House.

HONORING THE 59TH ANNIVERSARY OF MIAMI'S BIG FIVE CLUB

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 158 (Tuesday, October 6, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 158 (Tuesday, October 6, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E1042] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE 59TH ANNIVERSARY OF MIAMI'S BIG FIVE CLUB ______ HON. CARLOS A. GIMENEZ of florida in the house of representatives Tuesday, October 6, 2026 Mr. GIMENEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Miami's historic Big Five Club as it celebrates its 59th anniversary and nearly six decades of service to South Florida's Cuban-American community. The story of the Big Five is inseparable from the story of the Cuban exile community in Miami. Founded by Cuban exiles under the leadership of Dr. Manuel R. Morales, the Club brought together families associated with five of Havana's great social institutions: the Havana Yacht Club, Vedado Tennis Club, Casino Espanol, Havana Biltmore Yacht and Country Club, and Miramar Yacht Club. Forced to flee their homeland following the rise of the communist dictatorship, these families rebuilt their lives in Miami while preserving the traditions, values, and sense of community they brought from Cuba. From its earliest days, the Big Five has stood for God, country, family, Cuban traditions, freedom, and democracy. For generations, it has been a place where Cuban families could celebrate our culture, play sports, enjoy music and dominoes, build lifelong friendships, and pass our traditions from one generation to the next. For me, this anniversary is also deeply personal. My father and my family were members of the Big Five for decades, and like so many Cuban families in Miami, we shared countless moments there with friends and loved ones. The Club became part of the fabric of the Cuban exiles community. The Big Five represents far more than a social club. It represents an exile generation that arrived in America having lost its homeland but refused to lose its identity. They rebuilt their lives, raised their families, strengthened Miami, and kept alive their love for a free Cuba. It is my privilege to congratulate the leadership, members, families, and friends of the Big Five Club on its 59th anniversary. May the Big Five continue to serve our community for generations to come. ____________________