Beatriz Johnson and Manuel Falcón place white roses before the monolith. (Photos: José Emilio Oliveros Seisdedos)

By: José Emilio Oliveros Seisdedos

Santiago de Cuba, November 25 (RHC) -- Tribute was paid to Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz this Monday at the Santa Ifigenia Patrimonial Cemetery, in the city of Santiago de Cuba, on the eighth anniversary of his death.

In the ceremony that began with the raising of the Cuban flag on the tall flagpole, Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) in the province, and member of the Council of State, and Governor Manuel Falcón, each placed bouquets of roses before the monolith that holds the ashes in the Patriotic Front of the cemetery in Santiago.

Then, members of the Provincial Committee of the PCC and leaders of youth, mass and social organizations placed white roses in this sacred site of the nation.

They were joined by journalist Noraleydis Becerril Caballero with the poem "And there is a Fidel."

During the day on Monday, the people of Santiago will come to honor the historical leader of the Revolution eifght years after his death.

Until December 4, the date on which Army General Raúl Castro Ruz deposited the casket with Fidel's ashes in the monolith, an homage to the life and work of the Historical Leader of the Cuban Revolution will take place.