Honoring the 125th anniversary of the Rough Riders in the Spanish American War and designating June 2, 2023, as National Rough Rider Day.

Honoring the 125th anniversary of the Rough Riders in the Spanish American War and designating June 2, 2023, as National Rough Rider Day Whereas the brief history of the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry Regiment (referred to in this preamble as the Rough Riders Whereas the Rough Riders were 1 of 3 volunteer cavalry regiments created by Congress on April 25, 1898, with Leonard Wood named Colonel of the regiment and Theodore Roosevelt named Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment; Whereas, although the volunteer cavalry regiments were initially to recruit from the Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma Territories, the notoriety of the leaders of the Rough Riders inspired recruits from all portions of the United States to go to San Antonio, Texas, to enlist; Whereas the Rough Riders were given numerous nicknames, with the most prevalent being Roosevelts Rough Riders Whereas the Rough Riders trained in Texas and were ordered on May 8, 1898, to board 7 trains and proceed to Tampa, Florida; Whereas June 2, 2023, marks the 125th anniversary of the Rough Riders arrival to Tampa, Florida, to join the 5th Corps of the Army and await embarkation for the invasion of Cuba; Whereas the Rough Riders (1) were ordered to embark on June 8, 1898, with the Army invasion fleet; and (2) in their eagerness to be part of the invasion fleet, infamously commandeered a train to take them to Port Tampa to embark; Whereas, at Port Tampa, things were in great disarray, and the 5th Corps was highly disorganized; Whereas, in the confusion of moving the 5th Corps invasion forces on to the Army invasion fleet transports (1) several 5th Corps regiments were assigned to the same transport vessel, the S.S. Yucatan; and (2) Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt got his men aboard the S.S. Yucatan, and realizing that once aboard they would probably not be forced to disembark, the Rough Riders stayed aboard, to the chagrin of the other regiments; Whereas the Army invasion fleet sailed on June 14 with the Rough Riders, and the 5th Corps landed at Daquiri, Cuba on June 22, 1898; Whereas, on June 24, 1898, the Rough Riders, along with the 10th United States Cavalry Regiment (referred to in this preamble as the Buffalo Soldiers (1) led the advance of the 5th Corps; and (2) met, engaged, and caused the retreat, of Spanish forces at the Battle of Las Guasimas, while sustaining the first casualties of the Cuba campaign; Whereas, on July 1, 1898, the Rough Riders, under the command of the future President Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt, led the charge at Kettle Hill and San Juan Hill, serving alongside the Buffalo Soldiers; Whereas, despite the Rough Riders sustaining considerable losses, the Rough Riders participated in the siege of Santiago de Cuba and were present for the surrender of the enemy forces, which signaled the end of hostilities in Cuba; Whereas, during the Cuba campaign, the courage and tenacity of the Rough Riders in battle resulted in (1) 2 officers and 21 enlisted killed in action; and (2) 7 officers and 97 enlisted wounded in action; Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt was promoted to Colonel and the Rough Riders proved their worth and lived up to the publicity they had already received; Whereas Colonel Roosevelt was nominated for and later received the Medal of Honor for his leadership actions and bravery in leading from the front at Kettle Hill and San Juan Hill; Whereas, in August 1898, the Rough Riders departed Cuba for Montauk, New York, and were disbanded on September 15, 1898; Whereas from the formation of the Rough Riders to its disbandment, the Rough Riders suffered a 37 percent casualty rate during the Cuba campaign, the highest of any cavalry or infantry regiment in the Armed Forces; Whereas, after their service, numerous members of the Rough Riders went on to serve the United States in various roles, including (1) as President of the United States; (2) as Secretary of the Navy; (3) as various State Governors; (4) as Army Generals and Colonels; (5) as educators; and (6) in many other professions; Whereas the history and military achievements of the members of the Rough Riders, including their post-service contributions to the United States and their fight to defend the United States and liberate an oppressed people, warrant special expressions of the gratitude by the people of the United States; and Whereas the decedents and beneficiaries of the achievements of the Rough Riders celebrate June 2, 2023, as the 125th Anniversary of the Rough Riders in the Spanish American War: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate (1) designates June 2, 2023, as National Rough Rider Day (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

Summary: This resolution designates June 2, 2023, as National Rough Rider Day.