[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 236 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 236

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 1, 2023

    Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself and Mr. Rubio) submitted the 
   following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   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'') fighting to 
        defend and protect the United States has made an indelible contribution 
        to the history of the United States;
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 ``Roosevelt's 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
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates June 2, 2023, as ``National Rough Rider 
        Day''; and
            (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
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