HAVANA, Cuba. – The President of the Councils of State and Ministers of Cuba, Raul Castro, led the farewell ceremony to the prominent revolutionary intellectual Armando Hart, which took place in the Center of Studies on Jose Marti, where he worked until the end.

A large and excited representation of the Cuban people in which there were many students and young people came from early hours this Monday to testify their affection and admiration to the unwavering fighter and member of the historical generation of the Revolution.

Cuban first Vice-President Miguel Diaz-Canel described Hart as “true founder”, and spoke the main speech of the simple evening that sealed a whole morning of mourning in the Center of Studies on Jose Marti.

Diaz-Canel highlighted the “personal bravery” demonstrated by Hart during the clandestine struggle against the regime of tyrant Fulgencio Batista and as a member of the National Directorate of the July 26 Movement, which cost him prison and his confinement in the old Presidio Modelo at the former Island of Pines.
He also recalled his merits as the first Minister of Education of the revolutionary government and then as that of Culture, as well as the important responsibilities he played in the Party and, later in the diffusion of Jose Marti´s work and life as Director of the Office of Marti Program and the Cultural Society also bearing the name of the patriot.

Those who were Armando Hart´s companions in the fight against the tyranny and current leaders of the Revolution served as honor guards this Monday morning.