U.S. flag set to fly over Havana on Friday

The United States and Cuba will enter a new phase in their long, tumultuous history Friday when the American flag is raised outside the recently reopened U.S. Embassy along this city’s historic waterfront.U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will oversee the event, which follows a similar flag-raising ceremony outside the Cuban Embassy in Washington, D.C., last month. The events represent the latest steps in the changing relationship between the two nations since President Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro announced an end to the diplomatic freeze in December.To help the raise the flag, American officials are bringing back three of the U.S. Marines who lowered it 54 years ago when the U.S. cut off ties with Cuba at the peak of the Cold War. A wave of Americans is expected to attend, including members of Congress, businessmen and women and academics who have lobbied for the changes.

 

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