Bill Text: NY J00298 | 2025-2026 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim April 13, 2025, as Borinqueneers Day in the State of New York

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2025-02-04 - ADOPTED [J00298 Detail]

Download: New_York-2025-J00298-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 298

BY: Senator FERNANDEZ

        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        April 13, 2025, as Borinqueneers Day in the State of
        New York

  WHEREAS, Members of the Armed Services from the State of  New  York,
who  have  served  so  faithfully  and courageously in wars in which our
Nation's freedom was at stake, as well as in the preservation  of  peace
during  peacetime,  deserve a special salute from this Legislative Body;
and

  WHEREAS, This  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to  memorialize
Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim April 13, 2025, as Borinqueneers Day
in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National
Borinqueneers Day; and

  WHEREAS, In 2020, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization
Act, which  included  legislation  supporting  April  13th  as  National
Borinqueneers Day; it was passed into law January 1, 2021; and

  WHEREAS,   Since   its  inception,  National  Borinqueneers  Day  is
celebrated annually to recognize the many meritorious  contributions  of
the  Borinqueneers  and  to  highlight  their representation of Hispanic
soldiers and veterans; and

  WHEREAS, The Borinqueneers have  been  recognized  for  their  valor
during the Korean War; their awards include two Korean Presidential Unit
Citations,  2,771  Purple  Heart  Medals,  606  Bronze Stars, 256 Silver
Stars, nine Distinguished Service Crosses, and the Medal of Honor; and

  WHEREAS, The 65th U.S. Army Infantry  Regiment,  the  Borinqueneers,
began  as  the  Battalion of Puerto Rican Volunteers in the aftermath of
the Spanish American War of 1898; the unit officially became part of the
U.S.  Army in 1908, and came to be known as the Puerto  Rican  Regiment;
and

  WHEREAS,   Although   formed   and  trained,  racial  prejudice  and
segregation prevented them from  seeing  action  during  World  War  II;
however,  when  the  Korean  War  began  in  1950, they were deployed as
first-line combat troops; and

  WHEREAS, The Borinqueneers achieved great success in the first  half
of  the  war;  they  succeeded  in  Operation  Thunderbolt and Operation
Exploitation, the last  U.S.  Army  battalion-sized  bayonet  charge  in
history; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  that when
organizations and events of such  noble  aims  and  accomplishments  are
brought  to  our  attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by
all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
memorialize  Governor  Kathy  Hochul  to  proclaim  April  13,  2025, as
Borinqueneers Day in the State of New York; and be it further


  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of  New
York.