In a ceremony held at the "José Martí" Revolution Square, the people paid tribute to Fidel, after having concluded hours earlier the exhibition of his remains in the Memorial of the aforementioned Havana square. Speaking at the ceremony, Army General Raul Castro, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Councils of State and Ministers emphasized in the final part of his brief but moving speech:

"Dear Fidel: Next to the Monument to José Martí, national hero and mastermind of the assault on the Moncada Barracks, where we have gathered for more than half a century, in moments of extraordinary pain, or to honor our martyrs, proclaim our ideals, revere our symbols and consult the people on transcendental decisions; precisely here, where we commemorate our victories, we say to you together with our self-sacrificing, combative and heroic people: Hasta la victoria siempre!"