U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is leading a delegation to Cuba to officiate the reopening of the American embassy and the raising of the Stars and Stripes over Havana on Friday morning.

The event is the greatest symbolism of the change in hostile relations between both countries since the Cold War.

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Kerry and over 30 government officials including members of Congress and selected Cuban-American entrepreneurs are expected to be present at the event. A large media entourage and three marines, who lowered the American flag over 50 years ago, will also make the trip to Havana.

71-year-old Kerry will be the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Cuba since Fidel Castro's revolution and overthrow of dictator Fulgencio Batista Zaldivar. Kerry will also become the first U.S. Secretary of State to visit the island nation in over 70 years.

Although the U.S. embassy in Havana has been opened since July 20 - when diplomatic relations between both countries became officially restored - the flying of the flag was postponed for Kerry's arrival.

The event, which will be a victory for the President Barrack Obama's administration, would involve speeches after the raising of the flag. Crowds are expected to gather outside the U.S. seaside seven story embassy building located at Malecon, Havana.

The U.S. Army's Brass Quintet is scheduled to play the national anthems of both countries at the event. Meanwhile poet, Richard Blanco, who read at Obama inauguration, would read a poem titled "Matters of the Sea" of the event.

After the ceremony, Kerry is expected to meet with Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez privately. Afterwards both officials are expected to hold a joint press conference. Kerry will also meet privately with the Roman Catholic archbishop of Havana, Cardinal Jaime Ortega - who, along with Pope Francis, played an instrumental role in restoring bilateral ties between both nations.

President Obama and President Raul Castro reached a detente in December 17 last year after nearly two years of secret meetings.

Cuba reopened its embassy in Washington and raised the Cuban flag on April 20. Despite the change in bilateral relations between both countries, there is clearly more work to be done to fully restore ties.

The U.S. is yet to remove the crippling economic embargo imposed against Cuba in 1962. President Obama has called on Congress to have the ban lifted. But Congress has resisted lifting the ban and other remaining travel restrictions against the neighboring island.

Retired President Fidel Castro, who celebrated his 89th birthday on Thursday, has criticized America for destroying Cuba's economy. He demanded that the U.S. pay Cuba reparations equivalent to "many millions of dollars" for damages resulting from the economic embargo.

TagsCuba US Embassy, Cuba US Relations, US Embassy Flag Raising Ceremony Havana, Cuba American Embassy