The government of Puerto Rico has recently been marred by negative news, but a new commemorative plaque unveiled by the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP) and the Highways and Transportation Authority (ACT) is a cause for celebration. The plaque honors the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and features the medal of the Borinqueneers, a Puerto Rican regiment that served with honor in the US Armed Forces during World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.
The Borinqueneers, also known as the 65th Infantry Regiment, received numerous decorations and recognitions, including nine Distinguished Service Crosses, over 250 Silver Stars, and more than 2,700 Purple Hearts. Despite facing racism and xenophobia, the regiment served heroically, and on April 13, 2016, the US Congress awarded them the Congressional Gold Medal. The new plaque is a tribute to the Borinqueneers’ pioneering services, devotion to duty, and acts of valor in the face of adversity.
The regiment’s bravery in battles between 1950 and 1952 earned them admiration, and their legacy is now being recognized and celebrated in Puerto Rico.