[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 2 (Thursday, January 7, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E18]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


COMMENDING THE CITY OF ARROYO, PUERTO RICO ON ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
                    RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 6, 1999

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the special 
relationship between the city of Arroyo, Puerto Rico, and the United 
States. December 25, 1998, will mark the centennial Christmas 
celebrated with the United States.
  In the summer of 1898, American troops landed in the city of Arroyo, 
Puerto Rico, to help free the Puerto Ricans from Spanish colonialism. 
General John Rutter Brooke and his troops spent Christmas in Arroyo 
that year, and that event marked the beginning of a close and lasting 
relationship between the people of the city of Arroyo and the United 
States. To memorialize General Brooke, there is a city street named in 
his honor.
  The city of Arroyo resembles many typical U.S. small towns, with its 
``Main Street USA''. This central street, running north-south through 
the town, is named Calle Morse, after Samuel Morse, the inventor of the 
Morse code. He came to Arroyo to visit his daughter, who resided at the 
Enriqueta estate, and was present when the first telegraph line was 
installed in Puerto Rico in 1858. The city of Arroyo has the esteem of 
being the first location in Puerto Rico to send a telegraph, welcoming 
Puerto Rico to the age of telecommunications.
  The historical homes which line Main Street in Arroyo are fashioned 
after southern American styles of architecture, and the citizens of 
Arroyo are very proud of this feature of Main Street. The old U.S. 
customshouse in town has been well-preserved and today is an important 
center of the city's culture, serving as a museum which traces the 
historical connections with the United States.
  The town of Arroyo has taken an active role in defending the United 
States. From the First World War, to the Second World War, to the war 
in Korea, and to Vietnam, to Desert Storm, young men from Arroyo have 
answered the call to duty, and brave soldiers such as Virgilio Sanchez 
in Korea and Raul Serrano in Vietnam, have heroically given their lives 
in these wars.
  This year marks the 100th Christmas anniversary since that first 
Christmas that the U.S. officially spent in Arroyo. The town did their 
best to make General Brooke and his troops feel welcome, having to 
spend Christmas away from their immediate families. To commemorate this 
special Christmas celebration, students of welding at a local 
vocational technical school have crafted iron ornaments that will be 
placed throughout Main Street in recognition of the city's unique 
relationship with the United States. These beautiful handmade ornaments 
will be lighted on Christmas Eve, 1998, in remembrance of this joyous 
occasion.
  I commend the people of the city of Arroyo, Puerto Rico, for their 
special relationship with the United States and congratulate them on 
their 100th Christmas anniversary.

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