What is a Quetzal?

---

The Resplendent Quetzal lives in tropical forests in Central America. It is the national bird of Guatemala. Its image is found on the country's flag and coat of arms. Ancient Mayan chiefs used its feathers in their headdresses.

To me it is symbol of what is beautiful and wonderful about Guatemala. Both my children were born there We visited when we adopted and  I grew to love the place and the people. It suffers from many ills, poverty and poor governance being among them. Luz's art in this musical commemorates the 1954 CIA coup which ousted a democratically elected president, installed a US/United Fruit puppet, and launched the country on a path to its long civil war and the massacre of large numbers of indigenous  Mayan people.