Hispanic veterans honored during Hispanic HeritageMonth
Six Hispanic veterans who belonged to the 65th Infantry Regiment, better knownas “The Borinqueneers,” were recognized last week in Orlando as part of the celebration of Hispanic HeritageMonth.
The initiative was promoted by the Hispanic Engagement Action Team of the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) in East Orange County, near the University of Central Florida.
The keynote speaker was computer software engineer Frank Medina, who started working with veterans and their families four years ago to pass legislation to grant the Congressional Gold Medal to the 65th Infantry Regiment.
“My grandfatherwas one of the Borinqueneers,” Medina said after Captain Timothy Hill, NAWCTSD Excecutive Officer, handed the recognition to EdwinAviles, Victor Colon, Felix Lopez, Deogracias Rivera Manso, Angel Roura and OnilVélez.
Medina, wasmotivated to advance efforts for the gold medal, practically from the moment he began working in Orlando. It is the highest civilian honor in the country.
It was in January 2014 when President Barack Obama endorsed the law granting the medal to the regiment. The design was unveiled last summer on Capitol Hill during an event in which “Borinqueneers” from Florida Central, Puerto Rico and all over the country gathered in Washington, D.C. Veterans who belonged to the 65th Infantry Regiment were honored last week as part of a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
The 65th Infantry Regimentwasmadeupof Hispanics, mostly Puerto Ricans, who fought inWorldWar I, WorldWar II and the KoreanWar.
During U.S. Army the Col. ceremony, Rich Haggerty noted that quite unlike what he encountered after combat, “those who fought in the 65th Regiment were notwell received when they returned home.”
“When I went to fight, everyone in my unit spoke the same language. Wewere well equipped. Those who fought in the 65th? No,” he said, “It is an honor today to call themmy brothers.”