John Kerry begins historic Cuba visit to raise flag over embassy

HAVANA — Secretary of State John F. Kerry opened a history-making visit to Cuba on Friday to lead ceremonies to raise the Stars and Stripes at the U.S. Embassy for the first time in more than 50 years.

In a day scripted with sweeping symbolism, Kerry was also scheduled to meet a broad range of envoys from the top leaders to political activists who hope the new openings with Washington will offer more room for opposition voices on the island.

Kerry — the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Cuba since the Franklin Roosevelt administration — also is expected to include Washington’s appeals for greater political openness and improvements in Cuba’s human rights record.

In addition to a 20-person official delegation of officials and members of Congress, selected Cuban-Americans, entrepreneurs and a large media contingent traveled with Kerry — along with the three retired Marines who last lowered the flag when relations were severed more than The Washington Post