The three Marines who lowered the flag for the final time at the American embassy in Havana visited the Marine Embassy Security Group aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico on Aug. 11 in preparation for their return to Havana to reopen the embassy.

On January 4 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower severed diplomatic relations with the Cuban government and closed the American Embassy in the capital city of Havana. Master Gunnery Sgt. James Tracy, Cpl. Francis “Mike” East and Cpl. Larry Morris were there that day, closing the embassy and lowering the flag for the last time.

Fifty-four years later the three former Marine security guards have reunited and will participate in the reopening of the American Embassy in Havana with Secretary of State John Kerry.

“Outstanding idea,” said Tracy. “It’s going to be beneficial for both countries.”

All three are looking forward to their return trip. “I left a 1949 Desoto down there and I am going to be looking for it,” said Morris

In preparation for their return, the three toured the recently constructed MCESG school house aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico. “If we had gotten this training, I would still be in the Marine Corps,” said Tracy, who served in the Marines for 30 years, including two tours in Vietnam.

The tour included spaces that replicate embassies currently in use by the State Department with the goal of make the training as realistic as possible. All three Marines recalled completing their training wherever space was available, including the basement of Henderson Hall and the FBI Range on Quantico.

Currently, in the final phases of construction the new MCESG school compound will train not only Marine security guards, but also diplomatic security agents and special operations forces.

Marines have been providing security for the State Department since 1948, when the first memorandum of agreement between the two agencies was first signed. Since then thousands of Marines have served in countries all over the world.