[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 95 (Thursday, June 1, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1903]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 236--HONORING THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROUGH 
  RIDERS IN THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR AND DESIGNATING JUNE 2, 2023, AS 
                      ``NATIONAL ROUGH RIDER DAY''

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

                              S. Res. 236

       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 Unites 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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