Washington, D.C. – Ahead of Memorial Day celebrations, 30 veteran and active duty service members wrote a letter to congressional leaders urging them to resolve Puerto Rico’s political status as a matter of national security as well as to honor the sacrifices of all Puerto Rican service members.
The letter highlights the courageous sacrifice of Puerto Rican service members from World War I to the present day. It further emphasizes the honorable service of the U.S. Army’s 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the “Borinqueneers,” who earned numerous awards and commendations for their service in multiple military conflicts, but particularly during the Korean War.
With over 90,000 veterans currently living in Puerto Rico, the letter urges congressional leaders to resolve Puerto Rico’s political status to honor their continued sacrifice. Despite Puerto Ricans serving in every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces for over 100 years, because of the current territory status to this day they are denied full representation at the federal level, including voting for their Commander in Chief. The letter describes Puerto Rico’s current territory status as “inherently unjust, undemocratic, and unacceptable.”
With China’s intensifying and increasingly aggressive competition against America the letter indicates that, “the value and importance of Puerto Rico must not be taken for granted…Congress must deal with the unfinished business of Puerto Rico’s political status to settle the question definitively and continue strengthening its geopolitical standing.”
The letter’s signers, who hail from Puerto Rico, Florida, Texas, Virginia, Maryland, Arizona and North Carolina, urge congressional leaders to promptly resolve the island’s status to “ensure America remains a beacon of democracy and freedom throughout the world.”
Read the full letter HERE