HAVANA, Cuba. – A floral offering from Cuban President Raul Castro was placed this Monday before the ashes of Rear Admiral Jose Maria Finale, who died this Sunday at 77.

The posthumous tribute of the top leadership of the Party and the Cuban government was held in the Veterans Pantheon in Colon Cemetery, where Finale´s remains received the corresponding honors for his services to the country.

Rear Admiral Finale was a member of the State security agencies, participated in the fight against bandits and during the mercenary invasion by Playa Giron; he accompanied Fidel as skipper, served internationalist missions and received numerous decorations.

The ashes of the high officer will be transferred to the Mausoleum of the Frank Pais Second Eastern Front in the province of Santiago de Cuba.