“Flame of Freedom” (12/04/1963) By Eddie Germano

“Flame of Freedom” (12/04/1963) By Eddie Germano (1924 - 2026) 11 x 15, ink and wash on board A native Bostonian, Germano became a full-time cartoonist in 1948, at age 24, after serving in WWII. Among other positions, he worked as the editorial and sports cartoonist for the Brockton Enterprise from 1963-1990. The Republic of Venezuela emerged from dictatorships in 1953. A long-time ally with Cuba, Venezuela broke rank in the early 1960s under its relatively new democratic rule. General elections were held in Venezuela on December 1, 1963, an the presidential election was won by Raúl Leoni of the Democratic Action party. It was the second election of the democratic candidate over the socialist in the new Republic, an era that lasted from 1953-1999. Nothing lasts forever. In 1999, the country adopted a new constitution and realigned itself with the Castros under Hugo Chavez (1999-2013) and then his vice president and successor, Nicolas Meduro.