Tens of thousands of Cubans paid final respects in Havana on Monday to Fidel Castro, who ruled for half a century and resisted the U.S. throughout the Cold War.

Elian Gonzalez, the center of an international custody battle waged by Fidel Castro nearly two decades ago, returned to the public eye Sunday to praise the leader who fought to return him to Cuba.

Cuba will observe nine days of mourning for Fidel Castro, including a three-day journey by his ashes along the route taken by the rebel army he led on a victorious march across the island in 1959.