Our grandparents, Vicente and Rosa Galán, were Republicans in Asturias, Spain, and they worked tirelessly to improve the conditions of Spanish mine workers before the Spanish Civil War. Our grandfather was imprisoned and executed for his opposition to the Fascist takeover of government and industry, while our grandmother went into exile with three of their four children, who became our mother and father, aunts and uncle. This is the story of their path to freedom. It is a tribute to our late parents, whose journey was both unique and universal to many refugee families and democratic activists worldwide.

Cristina Rodríguez Galán, now retired, was born and raised in the Principality of Andorra. She completed her higher education in France and dedicated her professional life to the management of health institutions, especially in France and Andorra, where she held such positions within the Andorran government as Minister of Health and Wellbeing and Ambassador of Andorra to France. She lives with her husband, Jean Marie Nicolas, in Sispony-La Massana, Andorra and in Llança, España.

Juan José Rodríguez Galán was born in the Principality of Andorra. He completed all his higher education in France, where he spent his entire professional career in positions of responsibility within the French Ministry of National Education. Currently retired, he lives in Perpignan, France with his wife, Lydie Bunouf, and their son Célian. His eldest son, Maxime, lives and works in Barcelona.

Kathryn Flynn Galán is a book editor and publisher at her company, Wynnpix Productions. For twenty-five years, she was a motion picture studio executive and producer of films such as French Kiss, Joy Luck Club, Teen Wolf, and many others. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Amherst College and a master’s degree in media studies from UCLA. She has a son, Wynn Vicente Jacobson-Galán, and is married to Daniel Cohen. They live in Santa Monica, California and Bend, Oregon. www.WynnpixProductions.com

Vicente Alonso Galán, currently retired, was born and lived with his parents and great-aunt Marcelina in Piñeres until the age of eighteen. He studied in Piñeres and Moreda. His professional life mainly took place in Andorra, where he met his wife Blanca, and together they have one daughter, Aroa. Aroa married David López, and they have two children, Lucas and Cloe. Vicente and his family still live in Andorra, but they spend a few months a year at el Pueblu in the family home, which he and Blanca have completely renovated and which holds the best memories of our childhood, along with those of our parents’ and grandparents’ extraordinary lives and fights for freedom, which we are very proud to share in this book.