The three US Marine Guards
Source: Courtesy US Department of State
JOHN KERRY RECALLS THE BEGINNING OF RECONCILIATION AT THE MEETING OF OBAMA AND CASTRO---
“My friends, we are gathered here today because our leaders ““ President Obama and President Castro ““ made a courageous decision to stop being the prisoners of history and to focus on the opportunities of today and tomorrow. This doesn´t mean that we should or will forget the past; how could we, after all? At least for my generation, the images are indelible.
In 1959, Fidel Castro came to the United States and was greeted by enthusiastic crowds. Returning the next year for the UN General Assembly, he was embraced by then-Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. In 1961, the Bay of Pigs tragedy unfolded with President Kennedy accepting responsibility. And in October 1962, the missile crisis arose ““ 13 days that pushed us to the very threshold of nuclear war. I was a student then, and I can still remember the taut faces of our leaders, the grim map showing the movement of opposing ships, the approaching deadline, and that peculiar word ““ quarantine. We were unsettled and uncertain about the future because we didn´t know when closing our eyes at night what we would find when we woke up.“ Said John Kerry.
Three retired Marines - Mike East, Jim Tracy and Larry Morris - speak to Secretary Kerry after his remarks. These Marines lowered the flag outside of Embassy #Havana in January of 1961. Today, they presented the flag to be raised by the current military detachment. -----------------------------------------------------------In that frozen environment, diplomatic ties between Washington and this capital city were strained, then stretched thin, then severed. In late 1960, the U.S. ambassador left Havana. Early the following January, Cuba demanded a big cut in the size of our diplomatic mission, and President Eisenhower then decided he had no choice but to shut the embassy down.
Most of the U.S. staff departed quickly, but a few stayed behind to hand the keys over to our Swiss colleagues, who would serve diligently and honourably as our protecting power for more than 50 years. I just met with the Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter, and we´re grateful to Switzerland always for their service and their help. (Applause.)
John Kerry gives a tribute to the three Marine guards Larry Morrism Mike East and Jim Tracy who remained at the embassy, and accomplished their mission :“ Among those remaining at the embassy were three Marine guards: Larry Morris, Mike East, and Jim Tracy. As they stepped outside, they were confronted by a large crowd standing between them and the flagpole. Tensions were high. No one felt safe. But the Marines had a mission to accomplish. And slowly, the crowd just parted in front of them as they made their way to the flagpole, lowered Old Glory, folded it, and returned to the building.“ congratulates the three Marine guards.
“Larry, Mike, and Jim had done their jobs, but they also made a bold promise that one day they would return to Havana and raise the flag again. (Applause.)
At the time, no one could have imagined how distant that day would be.
For more than half a century, U.S.-Cuban relations have been suspended in the amber of Cold War politics. In the interim, a whole generation of Americans and Cubans have grown up and grown old. The United States has had ten new presidents. In a united Germany, the Berlin Wall is a fading memory. Freed from Soviet shackles, Central Europe is again home to thriving democracies.“ Said US Secretary John Kerry. US Department of State
