PRINTER'S NO. 382
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
80
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY CRUZ, ACOSTA, YOUNGBLOOD, BROWNLEE, V. BROWN,
KINSEY, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, THOMAS, SCHLOSSBERG, D. COSTA,
SAMUELSON, READSHAW, WATSON, MURT, SCHWEYER, A. HARRIS AND
McCARTER, FEBRUARY 9, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 9, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Citizens' Advisory Committee of the United States
Postal Service to issue a United States postal stamp honoring
the heroism of the "Borinqueneers" of the 65th Infantry
Regiment of the United States Army, the only all-Hispanic
unit in the history of the United States Army.
WHEREAS, The 65th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army
was created in 1899 by the Congress of the United States as a
segregated unit composed primarily of Puerto Ricans with mostly
continental officers; and
WHEREAS, The unit was nicknamed the "Borinqueneers" after
Borinquen, the word given to Puerto Ricans by the island's
original inhabitants, the Taino Indians; and
WHEREAS, The Borinqueneers displayed valiant and meritorious
service in World War I, World War II and the Korean War; and
WHEREAS, During the Korean War, the 65th Infantry Regiment
earned praise from General MacArthur, participated in nine major
campaigns and was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation, a
Meritorious Unit Commendation and two Republic of Korea Unit
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citations; and
WHEREAS, Individual members of the unit during the Korean War
earned ten Distinguished Service Crosses, 421 Silver Stars and
156 Bronze Stars; and
WHEREAS, In 1956, the Borinqueneers became the last
segregated unit to be deactivated and became the only unit ever
to be transferred from an active United States Army component to
the Puerto Rican National Guard; and
WHEREAS, The 1st Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment was
assigned to the 92nd Infantry Brigade and today continues its
service during the Global War on Terrorism; and
WHEREAS, Since inception of the unit, more than 20,000 Puerto
Ricans have served as Borinqueneers, but their contributions and
sacrifices have gone largely unnoticed by the country at large;
and
WHEREAS, Honoring the Borinqueneers with a commemorative
United States postal stamp would be a fitting and lasting
tribute for the brave soldiers of the 65th Infantry Regiment and
would serve to educate the American public about their existence
and service; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Citizens' Advisory
Committee of the United States Postal Service to issue a United
States postal stamp honoring the heroism of the "Borinqueneers"
of the 65th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army, the
only all-Hispanic unit in the history of the United States Army.
20150HR0080PN0382 - 2 -
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