Borinqueneers medal coming to Lorain

Lorain will host the award Congress gave to Puerto Rican warriors who fought and died for freedom of the United States.

The Congressional Gold Medal of the U.S. Army’s 65th Infantry Regiment will visit Lorain on Sept. 19.

The Army’s 65th Infantry Regiment was the nation’s first segregated Hispanic military unit and the first unit of the Korean War to receive the medal, which is the nation’s highest civilian award.

It will be on display for free to members of the public 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Lorain Historical Society, 329 W. 10th St.

It will be the first time the medal has traveled to a city on the mainland United States outside of Washington D.C.

The medal’s only other trip out of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History was to Puerto Rico. The soldiers of the 65th Infantry Regiment were nicknamed “The Borinqueneers” from the original Taino name of the island.

Just as important is the chance to say thank you to the veterans, said Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, who represents Lorain.

Veterans Miquel Berlingeri, Carlos Montes and Julio Santiago-Montanez are three Borinqueneers from Lorain; they will be joined by Francisco Colon of Fairview Park to receive bronze replicas of the national award.

“It’s not that often to have the chance to have an American hero in your presence, let alone four, all of whom are our neighbors,” Kaptur said. “We honor their courage, sacrifice and service to our nation.”

When the Congressional Gold Medal was presented in April, there was a ceremony in Washington to honor the Borinqueneers. Because of the ages of living World War II veterans, not all of them could travel there.

Kaptur and a local committee, formed to honor the veterans of Puerto Rican descent, each began efforts to bring it to Lorain, said Antonio Barrios, who coordinated the local plans.

As a representative, Kaptur became known for her ardent support for the National World War II Memorial. Barrios, who is president of the Lorain Arts Council, also is a Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam.

A native of Puerto Rico and a longtime Lorain resident, Barrios said he first learned of the Borinqueneers through a documentary film about the 65th Infantry Regiment.

“I know I shed a tear watching that film because a lot of things happened to those brave men that didn’t even speak English,” Barrios said. “Even though they couldn’t vote for the president and they couldn’t speak English, they gave up their lives for the United States of America.”

The untested young men became “a highly decorated unit that fought with a lot of valor and heart,” Barrios said.

The 65th Infantry first fought in World War I, then in World War II. They became best known for fighting in fierce action in the Korean War; its soldiers earned a Medal of Honor, nine Distinguished Service Crosses, 250 Silver Stars, more than 600 Bronze Stars and 2,700 Purple Hearts.

The congressional award bears their motto: “Honor Et Fidelitas,” Latin for “Honor and Fidelity.”

The work to bring the medal to Lorain came together in collaboration with the Lorain Historical Society.

The medal will travel to Lorain in the custody of the Smithsonian Institution; donations will pay for a curator to bring the piece for the local display.

The ceremony on Sept. 19 is a testament to officials at the national museum who want to extend the honor to veterans who could not get to Washington, said Barb Piscopo, executive director of the Lorain Historical Society.

“Congresswoman Kaptur and the Smithsonian have done a lot of negotiating to make this happen and bring this to Lorain,” Piscopo said. “This is a big deal. It’s a great honor.

“It’s a great honor,” she repeated. “I don’t think you can ever honor a veteran too much.”

Members of the local planning committee were Ray and Mary Santiago; Rick and Terri Soto; Lisette Gracia; Saul Rodriguez; Lorain police Chief Cel Rivera; Victor Leandry; Charlene Connors; and Anabel Barron.

Supporting agencies included the Lorain Police Department and the Lorain Arts Council, with artist Arnold Johnson providing design for the local event posters and materials.