[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 1, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4144-S4145]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 641--DESIGNATING APRIL 13, 2020, AS ``NATIONAL 
                          BORINQUENEERS DAY''

  Mr. SCOTT of Florida (for himself, Mr. Rubio, and Mr. Menendez) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                               S. Res 641

       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;

[[Page S4145]]

       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 Senate--
       (1) designates April 13, 2020, as ``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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