Havana, Cuba- After an extensive tour through the United States, Canada, Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil, which began on April 15, 1959, Commander-in- Chief Fidel Castro arrived in Cuba on May 8 that year, leading the delegation that accompanied him on that occasion.

Throughout the morning of that day and noon, residents of different sites were flocking towards Boyeros Avenue, where the leader of the Revolution was going to pass by in their journey to the city.

Among those attending the mass welcome to Fidel there were Commanders Ernesto Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos, with officers and soldiers belonging to their columns during the war of liberation.

The People Cheered to Fidel and the Revolution

Fifty seven years ago, the media published long articles with many photos and big headlines on the return of Prime Minister Fidel Castro to Cuba, after a tour through several Latin American countries. On May 8, 1959, in the review of a newspaper you could read that that was “the largest welcome ceremony paid ever to a ruler.”

Another said: “During the trip to the city, a compact mass filled the streets, as the triumphal entry that January 8”. It was also published a photo of the Jose Marti Civic Square, with large fabrics with messages and a sign reading: “Whenever the crowd believed Fidel was near, they broke in cheers to the Revolution and its main leader.”

Cuba, a Model for Latin America

On May 8, 1959, Fidel spent almost three hours from the airport of Rancho Boyeros to the Civic Square, in Havana, as the people waited for him along the road for greeting him and cheering.

That was the first time the Commander- in -Chief spoke from the historical Esplanade, where visitors pay tribute to Jose Marti in a great monument to his memory. On that occasion Fidel remarked: “When I returned to our country, seeing this extraordinary rally, I can only think that our people consider we we have fulfilled our duty.”

Then he added: “Dying is easy, the difficult thing is complying the duty of serving to the Revolution. Cuba is a model and a hope to Latin America.”