PRINTER'S NO. 393
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
75
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY CRUZ, SAMUELSON, YOUNGBLOOD, SCHLOSSBERG,
READSHAW, CALTAGIRONE, DAVIDSON, HILL-EVANS, MILLARD,
FREEMAN, MURT AND NEILSON, FEBRUARY 11, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, FEBRUARY 11, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee of the United
States Postal Service to issue a United States postal stamp
honoring the heroism of the 65th Infantry Regiment
"Borinqueneers" 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 received numerous military acknowledgments,
including two Presidential Unit Citations, a Meritorious Unit
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Commendation and two Republic of Korea Presidential Unit
Citations; and
WHEREAS, Individual members of the unit during the Korean War
earned one Medal of Honor, nine Distinguished Service Crosses,
approximately 250 Silver Stars, more than 600 Bronze Stars and
more than 2,700 Purple Hearts; and
WHEREAS, In 1956, the Borinqueneers became the last
segregated unit to be deactivated and the only unit ever to be
transferred from an active United States Army component to the
Puerto Rico National Guard; and
WHEREAS, The 1st Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment was
assigned to the 92nd Infantry Brigade and continues to serve
during the Global War on Terrorism; and
WHEREAS, Since the inception of the unit, more than 61,000
Puerto Ricans have served as Borinqueneers, yet their unsung
heroic contributions and sacrifices have only recently been
recognized; and
WHEREAS, On June 10, 2014, President Barack Obama signed into
law H.R. 1726, known as the Borinqueneers Congressional Gold
Medal Act (Public Law 113-120), sponsored by Congressman Bill
Posey of Florida; and
WHEREAS, The Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest
civilian honor bestowed by Congress, was awarded to the 65th
Infantry Regiment by leaders of the United States Senate and the
United States House of Representatives during a national
ceremony on April 13, 2016; 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
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and service; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Citizens' Stamp Advisory
Committee of the United States Postal Service to issue a United
States postal stamp honoring the heroism of the 65th Infantry
Regiment "Borinqueneers" of the United States Army, the only
all-Hispanic unit in the history of the United States Army.
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