Bill Text: NY K00610 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Commemorating the 103rd Anniversary of the naming of the Borinqueneers on June 4, 2023

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 21-1)

Status: (Passed) 2023-06-01 - adopted [K00610 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-K00610-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 610

BY: M. of A. Ramos

        COMMEMORATING  the 103rd Anniversary of the naming
        of the Borinqueneers on June  4,  2023,  and  paying
        tribute  to  these  soldiers  of  the  65th Infantry
        Regiment for their  courage,  bravery,  service  and
        dedication to the United States Armed Forces

  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 commemorate the
103rd Anniversary of the naming of the Borinqueneers on  June  4,  2023,
and  to  pay tribute to these soldiers of the 65th Infantry Regiment for
their courage, bravery, service and  dedication  to  the  United  States
Armed Forces; and

  WHEREAS,  Each  year,  National  Borinqueneers  Day is celebrated in
April  to  recognize  the  many   meritorious   contributions   of   the
Borinqueneers and to highlight their representation of Hispanic soldiers
and veterans; and

  WHEREAS,  The  65th  Infantry  Regiment, nicknamed the Borinqueneers
during the Korean War for the original Taino Indian name for Puerto Rico
(Borinquen), is a Puerto Rican regiment of the United States Army; and

  WHEREAS, On March 2, 1899, the United States  Congress  created  the
Army  Appropriation  Bill  to  create the first body of native troops in
Puerto Rico, and on June 30, 1901, the "Porto Rico Provisional  Regiment
of Infantry" was organized; and

  WHEREAS,  On  July  1, 1908, the United States Congress incorporated
the regiment into the regular  Army  as  the  Puerto  Rico  Regiment  of
Infantry,  United  States  Army,  and  on May 14, 1917, the regiment was
activated, and additional men were assigned, with the unit being sent to
serve at Panama; on June 4, 1920, the  regiment  was  renamed  the  65th
Infantry; and

  WHEREAS,  During World War II, the 65th Infantry Regiment saw action
in the European Theater, especially France and Germany, participating in
Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno and Rhin; years later,  several  Purple  Hearts
were awarded posthumously to members of the regiment; and

  WHEREAS,   During  the  Korean  War,  the  65th  Infantry  Regiment,
hereafter, the Borinqueneers, engaged in substantial  combat  operations
on  the  Korean Peninsula, and the unit played a central role in several
offenses and counter-offenses that earned  it  well-deserved  admiration
and commendation; and

  WHEREAS,  Wounded  Borinqueneers were evacuated from Korea to Walter
Reed Medical Center in Baltimore and once  discharged,  they  would  fly

from  Baltimore to Laguardia Airport in New York where they would stay a
few days and participate in parades in the Bronx and Harlem; and

  WHEREAS, 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; and

  WHEREAS, The United States Army Center of Military History  in  1982
officially  authorized  designating  the  65th  Infantry Regiment as the
"Borinqueneers"; and

  WHEREAS, On June 14, 2014, President Obama signed into  law  113-129
the Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal authorization bill; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Borinqueneers have been honored and recognized in and
throughout  the  great  State  of  New  York  for  their  contributions,
including  having  a  section  of  Southern Boulevard in the South Bronx
co-named La 65 de Infanteria Boulevard in 2012, and having the  National
Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City dedicated to them in 2014; 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; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Borinqueneers were symbols of hope for people willing
to make sacrifices for a  better  future,  even  as  they  searched  for
acceptance  and  equality;  as  long  as  the  memory  of their valor is
honored, their sacrifices will not be in vain,  and  their  legacy  will
live on for generations of Puerto Ricans to be proud of; and

  WHEREAS,  Our  Nation's veterans deserve to be recognized, commended
and thanked by the people of the State of New York for their service and
for their dedication to their communities, their State and their Nation;
now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commemorate  the 103rd Anniversary of the naming of the Borinqueneers on
June 4, 2023, and to pay tribute to these soldiers of the 65th  Infantry
Regiment  for  their  courage,  bravery,  service  and dedication to the
United States Armed Forces; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That copies of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the National Museum of the United States Army and the New
York Military Museum and Veterans Research Center.