(No ) (Approved September 23, 2014) AN ACT

Transcription

1 (H. B. 1546) (No ) (Approved September 23, 2014) AN ACT To designate the week of September 18 of each year, beginning on the Sunday before such date, as Puerto Rican Veterans Week. STATEMENT OF MOTIVES Given Puerto Rico s political relationship with the United States, the Island has played a decisive role in the latter s military history. During the World Wars I and II, the Korean War, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other conflicts in which they have participated, Puerto Ricans have stood out for their heroism and sacrifice while promoting the ideals of freedom and democracy throughout the world. As of today, and despite such honorable deeds, the Island has failed to grant them the recognition they deserve, earned with their blood and much sacrifice. Through Act No , March 30 of each year was designated as Vietnam Veterans Day. Said Act seeks to remember and honor Vietnam veterans since, on that day, the last troops of the American Armed Forces left South Vietnam under the terms of the Treaty of Paris, thus ending their participation in said conflict. However, Puerto Ricans also had an outstanding participation in the World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Persian Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other armed conflicts.

2 2 This time, we seek to recognize the thousands of Puerto Rican soldiers who fought in South Korea in the 1950s, risking their lives to preserve freedom and democracy. We especially recognize Puerto Rico s 65 th Infantry Regiment that fought in the Korean War and showed great bravery and selfless patriotic actions. The Puerto Rican soldiers of the 65 th Infantry Regiment were awarded the following medals: the Distinguished Service Cross (the second highest honor awarded in the Armed Forces), the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and more than two thousand seven hundred Purple Hearts (awarded to soldiers wounded in combat). Precisely, September 18, 1952, is a date we cannot forget. That day during the Korean War, the Puerto Rican soldiers of the 65 th Infantry Regiment defended the postulates of democracy by valiantly occupying Kelly Hill. Dozens of Puerto Rican young men gave their lives during those intense days of battle. While defending said important military outpost, over seventy (70) Puerto Rican soldiers went missing in action, more than fifty (50) of them in just one day: September 18, In the course of the war, the 65 th Infantry Regiment participated in nine (9) of the main battles and played a decisive role in many of the most critical showdowns. Just as their Commander, Col. William W. Harris, said in 1951: there were many who under-rated you when you first came to Korea. I can assure you now that there is no one who does not agree that you have proved yourselves as fine combat soldiers. You are damn good and I m proud of you. The people of Puerto Rico is also proud of the 65 th Infantry Regiment. Puerto Rican soldiers also showcased their heroism during the Persian Gulf War of the early 1990s in the operations known as Desert Storm and Desert Shield. This war had two goals: push the Iraqi army out of Kuwait, then enter Iraqi soil and neutralize Saddam Hussein s army.

3 3 Furthermore, Puerto Rican soldiers had a significant involvement in the Iraq War, also known as Operation Iraqi Freedom, which began on March 20, 2003, and ended in December In view of the Iraqi government s flagrant violation of human rights, thousands of Puerto Rican soldiers were activated during this conflict to defend the main ideals of the People of the United States of America, namely peace and democracy, as they have done in all the other conflicts they have participated in. In every war and conflict in which the Government of the United States has taken part since World War I, Puerto Rican soldiers have played a relevant and significant role in the total performance of U.S. troops, to the extent that their death tolls have proportionally been greater. There are approximately two hundred thousand (200,000) veterans in Puerto Rico. They make noteworthy socioeconomic and cultural contribution to the Island, and most of them have entered our workforce in different capacities. The millions of dollars circulating in our economic and commercial system each month that come from their compensation and pensions and from the mortgage loans they take towards home ownership have a significant effect in our economy. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) itself has created thousands of jobs in Puerto Rico to render services to this population, which jobs would not exist without veterans. On the other hand, scholarships for veterans and their dependents help support many universities and educational institutions in Puerto Rico. In summary, veterans have and will continue making significant contributions in all aspects of our Island. This Legislative Assembly wishes to do justice to these Puerto Rican heroes and commemorate their patriotic deeds by holding many activities during the week of September 18 of every year, to be known for posterity as Puerto Rican Veterans Week.

4 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF PUERTO RICO: Section 1. The week of September 18 of each year, beginning on the Sunday before such date, is hereby designated as Puerto Rican Veterans Week. Section 2. The Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall issue an annual proclamation encouraging all Puerto Ricans to recognize the heroic deeds and history of all Puerto Rican veterans. It shall be the responsibility of Puerto Rico s Secretary of State to ensure that such proclamation is published in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the Island. Such proclamation shall be distributed to all mass media, including regional ones, for publication. Both actions shall be taken at least ten (10) days before the start of such week. Section 3. The Department of State, the Department of Education, the Office of the Veterans Advocate, the municipalities of Puerto Rico, and the Puerto Rico Corporation for Public Broadcasting, given prior coordination and preparation, may adopt the necessary measures to achieve the purposes of this Act. They shall organize and hold official activities to recognize and highlight the contributions and history of Puerto Rican veterans. Section 4. The Department of Education may organize, prepare, and hold educational activities, presentations, and/or conferences for students in our schools so they may learn about and recognize the contributions, effort, and sacrifices, as well as the history of Puerto Rican veterans. The Department of Education shall encourage the private education system, private schools, and/or academies, to join in the achievement of the purposes of this Act. Section 5. The Office of the Veterans Advocate shall organize, prepare, and hold public activities and/or educational and social presentations or conferences for the general public so they may learn about and recognize the contributions, effort, and sacrifices, as well as the history of Puerto Rican veterans.

5 5 Section 6. The Puerto Rico Corporation for Public Broadcasting shall prepare, develop, and air special activities and/or programming, including documentaries without excluding other formats, aimed at promoting, informing, recognizing, and highlighting the patriotic deeds, contributions, efforts, and sacrifices, as well as the history of Puerto Rican veterans in the past, so that the general public may learn about and recognize the life of our veterans. Section 7. The promotion of all activities held by virtue of this Act shall be aimed at students and the general public so that the history of Puerto Rican veterans may be known. Section 8. All activities held by virtue of this Act shall be framed around and aimed at stressing, highlighting, and raising citizen awareness about the significance of the deeds of Puerto Rican veterans. The people of Puerto Rico, as well as public and/or private organizations that render services to veterans, shall be encouraged to participate in the scheduled activities. Section 9. The purpose of this Act is to bring government organizations and agencies together in commemorative and educational activities that highlight the contributions of Puerto Rican veterans throughout history. The private sector is likewise encouraged to join in the achievement of the purposes of this Act and to recognize the contributions and patriotic deeds of Puerto Rican veterans. Section 10. The official flags of the United States of America and Puerto Rico are hereby ordered to fly at half-mast in all Commonwealth and municipal instrumentalities and/or agencies on September 18 of each year. This shall be a symbol of mourning for and remembrance of Puerto Rican soldiers who did not return home, as well as appreciation for the heroic deeds of all Puerto Rican veterans, especially the fifty that were lost in the Korean War on September 18, Section 11. This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.

6 6 CERTIFICATION I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No (H. B. 1546) of the 4 th Regular Session of the 17 th Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico: AN ACT to designate the week of September 18 of each year, beginning on the Sunday before such date, as Puerto Rican Veterans Week. has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct. In San Juan, Puerto Rico, on this 18 th day of August, Juan Luis Martínez Martínez Director