<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p>As the rain clouds began to blow out to sea over the fortress of <a href="https://www.nps.gov/saju/index.htm">Castillo San Felipe del Morro</a>, I looked out over the crowd of veterans and their families, knowing that not even rain could ruin this day for them. On April 27, 2016, a team of Smithsonian staff traveled to Puerto Rico with the most recently issued Congressional Gold Medal, which was presented to the U.S. Army 65th Infantry Regiment, nicknamed "The Borinqueneers." According to the <a href="http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?pid=%270E%2C%2APL%5B%3C%230%20%20%0A">Senate's website</a>, the medal was given in recognition of the regiment's "pioneering military service, devotion to duty, and many acts of valor in the face of adversity." The Congressional Gold Medal is the "highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions," according to the site.</p><p><img alt="Crowd of people, some holding up phones to take photos, observe activity on a covered stage with a cloudy sky in the background. On stage, people in uniform are presented with medals." class="auto-caption media-image img__fid__18495 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" rel="lightbox" src="https://americanhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/styles/blog_image/public/Medals_presentation.jpg?itok=c2kBztdq" style="width: 550px; height: 412px;" title="A crowd gathers around the stage as the first medals are formally presented by Robert A. McDonald, Secretary of Veterans Affairs"></p><p>The first Congressional Medals were issued by the Continental Congress and struck in Paris during the American Revolution to "serve as an expression of national appreciation," according to the <a href="http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?pid=%270E%2C*PL%5B%3C%230%20%20%0A">Congressional Research Service</a>. Long before the power of the Internet, medals were small, portable objects on which images and messages could be struck and disseminated around the country and around the world. The medals were used to commemorate "distinguished contributions, dramatize the virtues of patriotism, and perpetuate the remembrance of great events." It should come as no surprise that the first recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal was General George Washington, the commander of the Continental Army. Washington received the medal for "wise and spirited conduct" in the <a href="http://www.mountvernon.org/digital-encyclopedia/article/siege-of-boston">Siege of Boston</a> in June 1775.</p><p><img alt="Photo on the stage. Group of men pose, some smiling and holding medals. In background, a flag and cloudy sky." class="auto-caption media-image img__fid__18496 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" rel="lightbox" src="https://americanhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/styles/blog_image/public/Medals_stage.jpg?itok=MjBnkIln" style="width: 550px; height: 413px;" title="A photo after the medals were presented"></p><p>The 65th Infantry Regiment is the recipient of the most recent medal in honor of its valor, determination, and bravery during the Korean War. The 65th is the first segregated Hispanic military unit in the history of the United States. The 65th Infantry Regiment garnered the nickname "The Borinqueneers" originating from the Taíno name of the island of Puerto Rico (Borinquen). Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory in 1898 and in 1917, Puerto Ricans were granted statutory citizenship. The 65th Infantry Regiment participated in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. Interestingly, the first shots fired from the United States, signaling its involvement in World War I, were shot from the fort of "El Morro" San Juan, Puerto Rico at a German ship that sailed into in San Juan Bay on March 21, 1915. Since that time, over 100,000 Borinqueneers have served as American war veterans and "The Borinqueneers" hold another distinction as the first military unit with service during the Korean War to receive this award.</p><p><img alt="Gold medal with portrait of a man's face. He wears a helmet and stares past the viewer. Behind him, other soldiers in uniforms and helmets hold guns in a tactical position. " class="auto-caption media-image img__fid__18497 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" rel="lightbox" src="https://americanhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/styles/blog_image/public/Obverse.jpg?itok=Nnnw3WM0" style="width: 550px; height: 413px;" title="Obverse of the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to "The Borinqueneers" U.S. Army 65th Infantry Regiment on April 13, 2016"></p><p><img alt="Gold medal with part of a seaside fort, leaves, and medal." class="auto-caption media-image img__fid__18498 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" rel="lightbox" src="https://americanhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/styles/blog_image/public/Reverse.jpg?itok=ZIn0X7Hp" style="width: 550px; height: 413px;" title="Reverse of the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to "The Borinqueneers" U.S. Army 65th Infantry Regiment on April 13, 2016. The motto of the Borinqueneers is "Honor Et Fidelitas," which is Latin for "Honor and Fidelity.""></p><p>Since the American Revolution, Congressional Gold Medals have been awarded for more than just military service and valor. Recipients of these medals include humanitarians, explorers, actors, and even foreign recipients such as the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. Prestigious recipients of this medal include actor John Wayne, Walt Disney, boxer Joe Louis, Native American Code Talkers, and civil rights activist Rosa Parks. One of my favorites is the <a href="http://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/2014/02/welcoming-home-the-japanese-american-nisei-congressional-gold-medal.html">Japanese American Nisei Congressional Gold Medal</a>, which is part of the museum's collection.</p><p>To date, over 300 Congressional Gold Medals have been awarded. My congratulations to the Borinqueneers, whose patriotism inspires so many of us.</p><p><em>Hillery York is a collections manager for the National Numismatic Collection.</em></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-user field-type-user-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Related Staff Member: </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/users/yorkh">YorkH</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-posted-date field-type-datetime field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Posted Date: </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">Thursday, July 7, 2016 - 08:00</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Categories: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/blog-tags/latino-history-culture">Latino History & Culture</a></li></ul></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?a=AEg0_HGGqjQ:RGjbRCO2qkE:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?a=AEg0_HGGqjQ:RGjbRCO2qkE:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?a=AEg0_HGGqjQ:RGjbRCO2qkE:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?i=AEg0_HGGqjQ:RGjbRCO2qkE:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?a=AEg0_HGGqjQ:RGjbRCO2qkE:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?i=AEg0_HGGqjQ:RGjbRCO2qkE:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?a=AEg0_HGGqjQ:RGjbRCO2qkE:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/OSayCanYouSee/~4/AEg0_HGGqjQ" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>
