1Urging the Citizens' Advisory Committee of the United States
2Postal Service to issue a United States postal stamp honoring
3the heroism of the "Borinqueneers" of the 65th Infantry
4Regiment of the United States Army, the only all-Hispanic
5unit in the history of the United States Army.

6WHEREAS, The 65th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army
7was created in 1899 by the Congress of the United States as a
8segregated unit composed primarily of Puerto Ricans with mostly
9continental officers; and

10WHEREAS, The unit was nicknamed the "Borinqueneers" after
11"Borinquen," the word given to Puerto Ricans by the island's
12original inhabitants, the Taino Indians; and

13WHEREAS, The Borinqueneers displayed valiant and meritorious
14service in World War I, World War II and the Korean War; and

15WHEREAS, During the Korean War, the 65th Infantry Regiment
16earned praise from General MacArthur, participated in nine major
17campaigns and was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation, a
18Meritorious Unit Commendation and two Republic of Korea Unit
19citations; and

1WHEREAS, Individual members of the unit during the Korean War
2earned ten Distinguished Service Crosses, 421 Silver Stars and
3156 Bronze Stars; and

4WHEREAS, In 1956, the Borinqueneers became the last
5segregated unit to be deactivated and became the only unit ever
6to be transferred from an active United States Army component to
7the Puerto Rican National Guard; and

8WHEREAS, The 1st Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment was
9assigned to the 92nd Infantry Brigade and today continues its
10service during the Global War on Terrorism; and

11WHEREAS, Since inception of the unit, more than 20,000 Puerto
12Ricans have served as Borinqueneers, but their contributions and
13sacrifices have gone largely unnoticed by the country at large;
14and

15WHEREAS, Honoring the Borinqueneers with a commemorative
16United States postal stamp would be a fitting and lasting
17tribute for the brave soldiers of the 65th Infantry Regiment and
18would serve to educate the American public about their existence
19and service; therefore be it

20RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
21Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Citizens' Advisory
22Committee of the United States Postal Service to issue a United
23States postal stamp honoring the heroism of the "Borinqueneers"
24of the 65th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army, the
25only all-Hispanic unit in the history of the United States Army.