Marines who lowered US flag 54 years ago see it raised again [PHOTOS]

monjola sotubo

August 14, 2015 5:27 PM

Gunnery Sgts. Mike East and Jim Tracy and Cpl. Larry Morris joined Secretary of State, John F. Kerry in a ceremony to raise the flag again in Havana, 54 years after it was taken down on the orders of then President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

James Tracy, left to right, Mike East and Larry Morris

Three US marines who lowered the country’s flag in Cuba in January 1961 have had the pleasure of seeing it raised again today, August 14, 2015.

Gunnery Sgts. Mike East and Jim Tracy and Cpl. Larry Morris joined Secretary of State, John F. Kerry in a ceremony to raise the flag again in Havana, 54 years after it was taken down on the orders of then President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

“That was a touching moment .To see Old Glory flying for the last time in Cuba, you know, it didn’t seem right. You know, it just seemed like something was wrong, something was missing, you know,” East said in a video released by the US Department of State.

Eisenhower ordered the closure of the US Embassy in Cuba and the taking down of the flag due to the deterioration of relations with the government of Fidel Castro.

However, relations between the countries warmed up following peace moves made by President Barack Obama in December 2014.

Read Twitter reactions to the development below:

Watch video of US flag being raised in Cuba below:

monjola sotubo