Local Cuban community reacts to U.S. flag raising in Havana

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Secretary of State John Kerry was on hand In Havana Friday, praising the leaders of both Cuba and America for making the decision to "stop being prisoners of history."

The American embassy closed its doors in Cuba back in 1961. The same three Marines who lowered the flag all those years ago were back on hand today to raise it once again.

Of course, this is just the next step in the thawing out of long strained diplomatic relations. But it's one that's being celebrated on both sides of the relationship, and by many right here at home.

It was a typical Friday night at Cuba Libre in Old City. A packed dining room keeps the kitchen hopping. But sous chef Angel Roque has something else on his mind: The American flag rising over the reopened U.S. embassy in his homeland of Cuba.

Roque tells us, "If somebody had told me this two years ago, I'd say, 'No, it's impossible.' And today it's a great day for both countries in my opinion."

A successful chef in Havana, Roque came to Philadelphia a year ago for new opportunities. His family still lives in the communist country with which the U.S. recently restored diplomatic relations after 54 years.

Roque believes this will lead to better lives for his people.

He tells us, "We are a very poor country and we need a lot of help. Not from the U.S. government but U.S. companies, tourists, people who used to invest money in Cuba for the benefit of the people."

Rich Negrin, Philadelphia's Managing Director, says, "I think it's the beginning of not just normalizing relations and opening an embassy but hopefully dialogue that will continue to show reforms around democracy."

Negrin was born to parents who fled Fidel Castro's rule. He supports the decision to normalize relations saying more than a half century of severed ties and embargos did little to help the Cuban people.

While the American flag flies over Havana, there could soon be a Cuban flag flying over Philadelphia. Flags from 90 countries line the Ben Franklin Parkway, but Cuba isn't one of them... yet.

Negrin says, "We started that conversation once the normalization had occurred, about a month or two ago, we started to have meetings internally. We hope to do that before our administration ends."