Borinqueneers Honored on National Day

0:00It's April 14th, Hartford News. Today starts now, AI-powered and ready. This week, Connecticut celebrated National Boring Quineers Day on April 13th, honoring Puerto Rican soldiers in the 65th Infantry Regiment. Since 1899, folks from all ages gathered at the Boring Quineers Monument in New Britain for the holiday's 5th anniversary, Congress established the date back in 2021 to recognize the segregated Latino unit. The event kicked off with anthems from the U.S. and Puerto Rico, led by new Britain's first Puerto Rican mayor, Bobby Sanchez, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal spoke about the long overdue thanks, comparing them to groups like the Tuskegee Airmen and Navajo code talkers. Retired first Sergeant Juan Cruz, head of Hispanic American Veterans of Connecticut, honored local Boring Quineers, shouting out two living vets in. They're 90s, from Enfield and Hartford, plus many who passed on. These in the crowd got emotional nods for their loved one's service, despite segregation,

1:03language issues, and discrimination. The monument draws from Puerto Rico's El Moro Fort, designed with help from local Jarel Morey, whose own family ties surfaced during the project. Morette also created a state license plate featuring El Moro, with $60 plates supporting bilingual vets services statewide. These tributes keep the Boring Quineers legacy alive, paving the way for inclusion in the military and reminding us all of the sacrifices that shaped today's forces.