Members of the 65th Infantry Regiment celebrate first National Borinqueneers Day
For years, the legacy of the struggle that the Puerto Rican members of the 65th Infantry Regiment known as the Borinqueneers have been reason to celebrate. Tuesday, National Borinqueneers Day was observed thanks to the bipartisan discussion that took place in the United States Congress.
In July 2020, the United States House of Representatives passed HR 6395, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2021, which included two bipartisan amendments jointly offered by Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón (R- PR) and Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) to “support military veterans in Puerto Rico, who do not always receive the same treatment compared to veterans who reside in the states.”
The first amendment presented by González Colón-Murphy was the one that led to the designating April 13 as the “National Day of Borinqueneers.”
“I am proud to have participated in the designation of April 13 as’ National Borinqueneers Day ‘in honor of the Puerto Rican soldiers of the 65th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army,” Murphy said.
“During the Korean War, they fought with skill and courage despite facing prejudice over the color of their skin and the language they spoke. As late as it may be, these men have earned the recognition and respect that they are now receiving from a grateful nation,” she added in statements to El Sentinel Orlando.
González Colón reiterated being proud of the “service and sacrifice of the Borinqueneers, who, without ever having voted for their Commander-in-Chief, as the island’s service members do now, fought selflessly and sometimes paid the maximum sacrifice for our country and the values we cherish”. Regarding the opportunity to name April 13 as their national day, she assured that “this is another way to continue expressing our gratitude for these great soldiers and their families.”
González Colón regretted that due to the situation with COVID19, many of the members were unable to travel to Washington D.C., but she said they were connected from various events that took place in places such as Puerto Rico and Florida.
The resident commissioner said that the importance of this National Day is that it officially
recognizes the contributions and sacrifices that thousands of Puerto Rican military personnel have made to the United States military.
“It is a privilege for me as a resident commissioner to be able to recognize the trajectory, leadership, strength and legacy left by the members of the 65th Infantry Regiment and their families who fought for our nation, its freedoms,” said González Colón. “For all those veterans who join the armed forces today, they do so in the legacy left by the 65th Infantry, opening doors on how they fought,” she said.
The Regiment distinguished itself for its bravery during the Korean War and other conflicts as it faced another personal battle: discrimination against Hispanic soldiers for not being fluent in English and sometimes even the color of their skin. However, their bravery and astuteness on the battlefield led to them being awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on April 13, 2016.
To recognize the contributions to the Armed Forces that have been made by hundreds of thousands of patriotic U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico, the measure also had the support of Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), along with Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ ) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) who led the effort to obtain a similar provision in the United States Senate on July 1, 2020.
“The Borinqueneers were brave Americans who fought for decades to defend our country. History will always pay tribute to the sacrifices these brave men and their families made to defend our freedom,” said Rick Scott in a video posted on his Twitter account.
Darren Soto (R-Fl), said that “on this first National Borinqueneers Day, we pay tribute to the heroes of the 65th Infantry Regiment who, despite discrimination, fought bravely to defend the freedoms of all Americans. The Borinqueneers never failed to demonstrate the value of their exemplary heroism, and now, their legacy lives on.”
Soto added that “today, Puerto Ricans are enlisting in the army twice as many as residents of the continent. As we come together to honor his life of service and devotion to America, we reaffirm that his sacrifices were not in vain. May history remember you forever as the patriotic heroes who represented the pride and fighting spirit of all Puerto Ricans. Today and always, we thank each of them for their service.”
Rubio, who has held several recognitions for Borinquneers in the past said that this moment “honors the courage, sacrifice and courage of our fellow Americans and their service. We honor the members of the US Army 65th Infantry Regiment and remember the ultimate sacrifice these soldiers made in defense of our beloved country. There is no doubt that the contribution of the Borinqueneers to our armed forces has left an eternal legacy, as well as what their heroism meant for many of us.”
Celebrations in Central Florida
To commemorate Borinqueneers Day, eight members of this distinguished team were recognized in the city of Kissimmee. Among these, Rafael Donis, who will be 91 years old and said to be happy and thankful for the recognition that was given to them. He said “it has been a pleasure to be able to share with them [the other Borinqueneers] their achievements and know that they are appreciated.
Another one of the Borinqueneers present was Anibal Albertorio, who in 2016 received the replica of the Medal of Honor from Senator Rubio, jokingly said that he was 91 years young and that he will never grow old. He celebrated the official commemoration of National Borinqueneers Day and said he felt pride in being able to represent the name of his island and the Regiment.
Likewise, Germán Pérez Colón, who will turn 93 in May, said that being a Borinqueneer has been what has given him life and has always kept him young. Meanwhile, Gil Cintrón, 92, thanked the recognition and said that he was happy to celebrate it.
The event was made in part thanks to Wanda Rentas, former deputy mayor of the city of Kissimmee. She said it has always been a passion of hers the dedication the Borinqueneers put on the field and evertyhing they overcame. Eight of the 12 Borinqueneers who initiated the petition for this recognition were able to be present at the event. “I live through them. They are always so happy and humble to be recognized. The stories they have from war are traumatizing, they experience horrendous events and yet, here they are, strong and proud,” she said.
This date was selected because it was precisely on April 13, 2016, that about 50 Puerto Rican members of the 65th Infantry Regiment went to Washington to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civil distinction. from USA
The 65th Infantry Regiment was created in 1899 and was part of a segregated unit of the US Armed Forces that fought, among other conflicts, in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War.
To date only one other Hispanic has been awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, Puerto Rican baseball star and humanitarian Roberto Clemente.
The 65th Infantry Regiment was formed just after World War I. It participated in a limited way in World War II and was consolidated during the Korean War. The regimental soldiers earned ten Distinguished Service Crosses, 250 Silver Medals, 600 Bronze Medals, and 3,000 Purple Hearts.