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'I Am Fidel:' Cuba Bids Farewell to El Comandante in Santiago

IN PICTURES: Fidel Castro's ashes have been interred in his hometown Santiago de Cuba alongside other national heroes.

Cubans in Fidel Castro's hometown of Santiago de Cuba were the last to bid farewell to the late revolutionary leader as his ashes traveled across the country during nine days of mourning following his death on Nov. 25 at the age of 90.

After a four-day journey from Havana retracing the historical steps of the revolution's triumphant march to the capital upon the fall of the dictatorship in 1959, Fidel's ashes arrived in Santiago de Cuba on Saturday, where thousands gathered to commemorate the late president. In the last public event before Fidel's funeral Sunday, President Raul Castro pledged to defend his older brother's legacy and carry on the torth of Cuba's revolution.  

Fidel's ashes arrived at Santiago de Cuba's Santa Ifigenia cemetery Sunday, where they were interred in a "simple" ceremony alongside famed independence leader Jose Marti and other important figures in Cuba's history.

Fidel Castro led the revolution that toppled the U.S.-backed dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista in 1959 and governed the country for nearly half a century before deligating control to then-Vice President Raul Castro in 2006 before officially leaving politics in 2008. 

Keeping with Fidel's dying wish and rejection of personality cults, Raul Castro announced that the late leader's image will not be immortalized in statues or namesakes of public places. 

 

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Residents react as the caravan carrying the ashes of Cuba's late President Fidel Castro arrives in Santiago de Cuba, Dec. 3, 2016.
Residents react as the caravan carrying the ashes of Cuba's late President Fidel Castro arrives in Santiago de Cuba, Dec. 3, 2016. Photo:Reuters
After a massive send off in Havana, Fidel Castro's ashes traversed the country in a
After a massive send off in Havana, Fidel Castro's ashes traversed the country in a "Caravan of Liberty" retracing in reverse is historic journey to the capital to claim the victory of the revolution in 1959. Photo:Reuters
The late Cuban president will be remembered for his reforms of Cuban education and health systems as well as his solidarity with anti-imperialist, anti-colonial, anti-capitalist struggles around the world.
The late Cuban president will be remembered for his reforms of Cuban education and health systems as well as his solidarity with anti-imperialist, anti-colonial, anti-capitalist struggles around the world. Photo:Reuters
An apartment building is decorated with the national flag and a photograph of former President Fidel Castro as a man stands on his balcony in Havana, Dec. 3, 2016.
An apartment building is decorated with the national flag and a photograph of former President Fidel Castro as a man stands on his balcony in Havana, Dec. 3, 2016. Photo:Reuters
People hold images of Cuba's late President Fidel Castro as they wait for the arrival of the caravan carrying his ashes in Santiago de Cuba, Dec. 3, 2016.
People hold images of Cuba's late President Fidel Castro as they wait for the arrival of the caravan carrying his ashes in Santiago de Cuba, Dec. 3, 2016. Photo:Reuters
People walk past graffiti of Cuba's late president Fidel Castro in Santiago de Cuba, which reads:
People walk past graffiti of Cuba's late president Fidel Castro in Santiago de Cuba, which reads: "With the revolution, contracts aren't signed, commitments are signed." Photo:Reuters
Foreign dignitaries and leftist leaders also joined Raul Castro and the Cuban political leadership on stage to pay their final respects to Fidel Castro.
Foreign dignitaries and leftist leaders also joined Raul Castro and the Cuban political leadership on stage to pay their final respects to Fidel Castro. Photo:Reuters
One of Fidel Castro's dying wishes was that his image and name never adorn public places, from streets and parks to government institutions.
One of Fidel Castro's dying wishes was that his image and name never adorn public places, from streets and parks to government institutions. Photo:Reuters
"Fidel was always against the cult of personality until his dying days," Raul Castro said in a public memorial in Santiago de Cuba, Dec. 3, 2016. Photo:Reuters
The Cuban government will present a legal measure to the National Assembly which will forbid the use of Fidel Castro's name and image being used for monuments and in other public places.
The Cuban government will present a legal measure to the National Assembly which will forbid the use of Fidel Castro's name and image being used for monuments and in other public places. Photo:Reuters
An attendee holds a sign reading
An attendee holds a sign reading "I am Fidel" at a tribute to former Cuban leader Fidel Castro in Santiago de Cuba, Dec. 3, 2016. Photo:Reuters
Among Fidel Castro's chief achievements are the elimination of illiteracy, advances in medicine and universal healthcare, free education, and an agricultural revolution that transitioned the island to organic farming.
Among Fidel Castro's chief achievements are the elimination of illiteracy, advances in medicine and universal healthcare, free education, and an agricultural revolution that transitioned the island to organic farming. Photo:Reuters
Cuban and foreign dignitaries attend a tribute to former Cuban leader Fidel Castro in Santiago de Cuba, Dec. 3, 2016.
Cuban and foreign dignitaries attend a tribute to former Cuban leader Fidel Castro in Santiago de Cuba, Dec. 3, 2016. Photo:Reuters
Cuban President Raul Castro (C) speaks at a tribute to his brother and late former Cuban leader Fidel Castro in Santiago de Cuba, Dec. 3, 2016.
Cuban President Raul Castro (C) speaks at a tribute to his brother and late former Cuban leader Fidel Castro in Santiago de Cuba, Dec. 3, 2016. Photo:Reuters
People hold up images of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro at a tribute to Fidel Castro in Santiago de Cuba, Dec. 3, 2016.
People hold up images of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro at a tribute to Fidel Castro in Santiago de Cuba, Dec. 3, 2016. Photo:Reuters
Cuban President Raul Castro speaks at a tribute to his brother and late former Cuban leader Fidel Castro in Santiago de Cuba, Dec. 3, 2016.
Cuban President Raul Castro speaks at a tribute to his brother and late former Cuban leader Fidel Castro in Santiago de Cuba, Dec. 3, 2016. Photo:Reuters
Students and youth have rallied to remembers the late president and praise his legacy of free education across the country.
Students and youth have rallied to remembers the late president and praise his legacy of free education across the country. Photo:Reuters
A woman reacts after watching the cortege carrying the ashes of Cuba's former President Fidel Castro drive past toward Santa Ifigenia cemetery in Santiago de Cuba, Dec. 4, 2016.
A woman reacts after watching the cortege carrying the ashes of Cuba's former President Fidel Castro drive past toward Santa Ifigenia cemetery in Santiago de Cuba, Dec. 4, 2016. Photo:Reuters
Published 4 December 2016
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