U.S. flag raised over embassy in Cuba for the first time in 54 years

Speaking to crowds in both English and Spanish, Secretary of State John Kerry oversaw the raising of the American flag at the U.S. embassy in Cuba Friday morning, marking the first major breakthrough in diplomatic relations between the two nations since the early years of the Cold War. Marines James Tracy, Francis East, and Larry Morris, who originally removed the flag in January 1961, had the honor of ceremonially handing over the Stars and Stripes before it was raised into the clear blue skies over Havana.

"For the first time in 50 years, Cuba and the U.S. are treating each other as equals," Cuba's Radio Reloj said of the event, according to NBC News. "While we cannot refer to each other yet as friends or allies, we are on the path to normalizing relations that will benefit the people of both countries."

Kerry added, "We are confident that the time is now for us to reach out to one another as neighbors and not as enemies."

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