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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Military heroes who served valiantly and
3honorably in wars in which this country's freedom was at stake
4should be recognized by the people of this great nation; the
5courage with which these soldiers fought should never be
6forgotten; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with
8its long standing traditions, it is the sense of the members of
9this body to urge Congress to recognize the 65th Infantry
10Regiment, known as the Borinqueneers, and recommend that the
11regiment receives the Congressional Gold Medal; and
 
12    WHEREAS, This auspicious honor is an award bestowed by the
13United States Congress and is, along with the Presidential
14Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United
15States; it is given to persons who have had an impact on
16American history and culture that is likely to be recognized
17long after the achievement of the meritorious events; the
18Borinqueneers have truly had this kind of impact; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Mandated by Congress in 1899, the 65th Infantry
20Regiment from Puerto Rico, the Borinqueneers, played a
21prominent role in American military history; the regiment has
22participated in 3 United States wars, World War I, World War

 

 

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1II, and, most notably, the Korean War; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Enlisted in the United States Armed Forces, the
3Borinqueneers courageously shed their blood, sweat, and tears
4to defend our freedoms; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The 65th Infantry Regiment of Puerto Rico earned
6the sole distinction of conducting the last battalion-sized
7bayonet charge in American military history; one battalion from
8the 65th Infantry Regiment, the Borinqueneers, gallantly faced
9overwhelming odds on February 2, 1951, while in combat against
10the 9th Chinese Infantry Division; and
 
11    WHEREAS, The 65th Infantry Regiment served with
12distinction and valor, earning two Presidential Unit
13Citations, an Army Unit Superior Award, a Navy Unit Citation,
14two Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations, and the
15Bravery Gold Medal of Greece; and
 
16    WHEREAS, The Congressional Gold Medal of Honor would affirm
17that the 65th Infantry Regiment, the Borinqueneers, is an
18American national treasure, who served their country with honor
19and bravery; and
 
20    WHEREAS, In the spirit of true American heroism, the 65th
21Infantry Regiment of Puerto Rico is an inspiration to every

 

 

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1American; they are exceptional soldiers who deserve to be
2recognized, commended, acknowledged, and remembered by the
3people of the State of Illinois and the citizens of this great
4nation; therefore, be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
6NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
7we urge Congress to recognize the 65th Infantry Regiment of
8Puerto Rico, known as the Borinqueneers, and further recommend
9that they receive the Congressional Gold Medal based on their
10gallant record of achievement on the battlefields,
11particularly in Korea from 1950 to 1953; and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
13delivered to the President of the Senate of the United States;
14the Speaker of the House of Representatives; the members of the
15Illinois congressional delegation; Frank Medina, National
16Chair of the Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Alliance;
17Anthony Mele, Chairman of the 65th Infantry Regiment Honor Task
18Force and great-grandson of Leonicio Beauchamp (65th Infantry
19Regiment of Puerto Rico - 1917); and Javier Morales, President
20of the 65th Infantry Veterans Association in Puerto Rico.