They came by the thousands, borne across the Florida Straits by an endless flotilla of tottering boats. “Viva Presidente Carter!” they shouted, carrying what few possessions they still had: a dress, a keepsake or two, or in the case of this unidentified woman, a crucifix. Between April and September, 124,776 Cubans arrived in Florida after fleeing the Castro regime. The largest number to immigrate in a single day, according to the Coast Guard: 3,784. The arrival of the Marielitos, thousands of whom settled in Tampa, would have far-reaching social, political and economic implications for the state. • LIBERTAD • Times photo by ERIC MENCHER

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