Title: Expressing support for the designation of April 13, 2020, as "National Borinqueneers Day".
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This resolution expresses support for the designation of National Borinqueneers Day and recognizes the bravery, service, and sacrifice of Puerto Rican soldiers of the 65th Infantry Regiment in the armed conflicts of the United States in the 20th and 21st centuries.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1039 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1039

Expressing support for the designation of April 13, 2020, as ``National 
                          Borinqueneers Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              July 1, 2020

    Miss Gonzalez-Colon of Puerto Rico (for herself, Mrs. Murphy of 
Florida, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Posey, Ms. Shalala, Mr. Soto, Mr. Steube, Mr. 
Hastings, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Webster of Florida, 
  Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania, Mr. Lewis, Mr. King of New York, Mr. 
Diaz-Balart, Mr. San Nicolas, Mr. Cole, and Mr. Connolly) submitted the 
  following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed 
Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a 
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for the designation of April 13, 2020, as ``National 
                          Borinqueneers Day''.

Whereas, in 1898, Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States and, the 
        following year, Congress authorized raising a military unit of volunteer 
        soldiers on the island, which was organized as the ``Puerto Rico 
        Regiment of Volunteer Infantry'';
Whereas, in 1908, Congress incorporated the regiment as part of the regular 
        United States Army as the ``Puerto Rico Regiment of Infantry'';
Whereas, in 1917, after the United States entry into World War I, the Puerto 
        Rico Regiment of Infantry was sent to Panama to defend the Panama Canal 
        Zone;
Whereas, in 1920, Congress redesignated the unit as the 65th Infantry Regiment 
        of the United States Army;
Whereas during World War II, the 65th Infantry Regiment served in North Africa 
        and Europe, including combat operations in France and Germany for which 
        members of the unit received commendations for valiant service, 
        including 1 Distinguished Service Cross, 2 Silver Stars, 2 Bronze Stars, 
        and 90 Purple Hearts;
Whereas, in 1950, the 65th Infantry Regiment deployed to South Korea, and during 
        the voyage the soldiers nicknamed the unit the ``Borinqueneers'', a 
        reference to the native Taino Tribe's name for the island of Puerto 
        Rico;
Whereas during the Korean war, the 65th Infantry Regiment (hereinafter, the 
        ``Borinqueneers'') engaged in substantial combat operations on the 
        Korean Peninsula, and the unit played a central role in several 
        important offensives and counter-offensives that earned it well-deserved 
        admiration and commendation;
Whereas the Borinqueneers' extraordinary service during the Korean war resulted 
        in the Regiment receiving 2 Presidential Unit Citations (Army and Navy), 
        2 Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations, a Meritorious Unit 
        Commendation (Army), a Navy Unit Commendation, the Chryssoun Aristion 
        Andrias (Bravery Gold Medal of Greece), and campaign participation 
        credits for United Nations Offensive, Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) 
        Intervention, First United Nations Counteroffensive, CCF Spring 
        Offensive, United Nations Summer-Fall Offensive, Second Korean Winter, 
        Korea Summer-Fall 1952, Third Korean Winter, and Korea Summer 1953;
Whereas the Borinqueneers' extraordinary service during the Korean war also 
        resulted in numerous individual commendations and awards for its 
        soldiers, including 1 Medal of Honor, 9 Distinguished Service Crosses, 
        more than 250 Silver Stars, more than 600 Bronze Stars, and more than 
        2,700 Purple Hearts;
Whereas, in 1956, the 65th Infantry Regiment was deactivated from the regular 
        United States Army and, in 1959, its units and regimental number were 
        assigned to the Puerto Rico National Guard;
Whereas, in 1982, the United States Army Center of Military History officially 
        authorized designating the 65th Infantry Regiment as the 
        ``Borinqueneers''; and
Whereas, on April 13, 2016, Congress awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to the 
        65th Infantry Regiment in recognition of the Borinqueneers' numerous 
        contributions to American history and outstanding military service from 
        World War I through the recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses support for the designation of ``National 
        Borinqueneers Day'';
            (2) recognizes the bravery, service, and sacrifice of the 
        Puerto Rican soldiers of the 65th Infantry Regiment in the 
        armed conflicts of the United States in the 20th and 21st 
        centuries;
            (3) expresses deep gratitude for the contributions to the 
        Armed Forces that have been made by hundreds of thousands of 
        patriotic United States citizens from Puerto Rico; and
            (4) urges individuals and communities across the United 
        States to participate in activities that are designed--
                    (A) to celebrate the distinguished service of the 
                military veterans who served in the 65th Infantry 
                Regiment, known as the ``Borinqueneers'';
                    (B) to pay tribute to the sacrifices made and 
                adversities overcome by Puerto Rican and Hispanic 
                military service members; and
                    (C) to recognize the significant contributions to 
                American history made by the 65th Infantry Regiment, 
                known as the ``Borinqueneers''.
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