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July 28, 2005
Puerto Rican veterans
honored with square
Yawu Miller
The bronze plaque commemorating the 65th Infantry
Regiment at the corner of West Dedham and Washington streets was
flanked by red, white and blue carnations in the shape of the
Puerto Rican and American flags.
The plaque — dedicated to an all-Puerto Rican regiment —
showed the duality that reflects the island’s sometimes
conflicting status as a U.S. territory with a strong national
identity.
There was profusion of hand-held Puerto Rican flags blowing in
the breeze as emcee Gumercindo Gomez called for a singer to recite
the U.S. national anthem.
When the singer failed to materialize, the crowd stood in with
a spirited recitation of the Puerto Rican national anthem lead
by the tenor voice of City Councilor Felix Arroyo.
While the event, was decidedly Puerto Rican, it was the sacrifice
Puerto Rican service men and women made for the U.S. that brought
several dozen mostly Puerto Rican activists to the street corner.
Above their heads a small blue sign marked the corner as Puerto
Rican Veterans Square, the first square in the United States dedicated
to the men and women from the Caribbean island who served in this
country’s military.
“They represent our culture and a commitment,” Arroyo
told the audience. “They risked their lives for our nation
to be able to continue the experiment of democracy. Maybe some
of the wars were unnecessary, but that doesn’t matter right
now. What matters is that they answered the call.”
Arroyo, who has attended many anti-war demonstrations in recent
years, recalled his own father’s service in World War II,
underscoring the willingness of Puerto Ricans to serve a country
that took their island by military force more than 100 years ago.
Vietnam veteran Tony Molina, who has lobbied for the monument
and designation of the square, said people have often asked him
why the square is dedicated Puerto Ricans as a whole, rather than
to one heroic soldier.
“I tell them, out of 200,000 veterans, ‘which one
do I select to put his name up there? They’re all heroes.’”
The ceremony officially kicked off this city’s Puerto Rican
week, which will culminate with a festival Friday through Sunday
in Franklin Park. On Sunday morning, a parade will make its way
from Malcolm X Boulevard to Franklin Park.
Monday’s event brought out state representatives, city councilors
and Mayor Thomas Menino.
“Those men and women gave of themselves,” Menino said.
“We’re here today to say thank you.”
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