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Date: 4/19/2022
HOLYOKE – The public was invited to attend a flag-raising ceremony at City Hall on April 13 to join together in observing National Borinqueneers Day.
Joining Mayor Joshua Garcia and the city of Holyoke outside of City Hall was retired Sgt. Gumersindo Gomez, the executive director to the Bilingual Veterans Outreach Center. Gomez also is an in-country Vietnam army veteran and the president of the Massachusetts State Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) State Council and a VVA accredited service officer.
Gomez spoke to the crowd of about 30 people about the honorable efforts of Puerto Ricans serving in the United States military and the pride he and other Puerto Rican veterans have for their efforts. Gomez said the Borinqueneers were formed in 1908, 10 years after the United States gained possession of Puerto Rico as a territory and were incorporated into the U.S. Army in 1922.
Gomez noted he served the U.S. with honor during challenging times. He added the during the Korean War, Borinqueneers were transported from Puerto Rico, still in their typical uniforms for their climate, to Korea in the middle of winter and faced sub-zero temperatures.
While it has been a challenge at times as a minority group that was used in helping fight for the United States, he is happy to see where things are now many years later. He was also happy to note that the city of Holyoke has a Puerto Rican mayor, indicating progress in some respects to Puerto Rican’s relationship with the country.
On Jan. 1, 2021, Congress declared that April 13 would be designated National Borinqueneers Day to honor “the bravery, service and sacrifice,” of the 65th Infantry Regiment, a U.S. Army unit that consisted mostly of soldiers from Puerto Rico.
During the Korean War, the 65th adopted the nickname “Borinqueneers” in recognition of the indigenous Taino Indians, the original inhabitants of Puerto Rico whose name for the island was Borinquen. Over the years, The Borinqueneers received numerous decorations including more than 2,700 Purple Hearts, 600 Bronze Stars, 250 Silver Stars, nine Distinguished Service Crosses and one Congressional Medal of Honor.