Fallen soldiers to be honored today at several ceremonies

Veterans’ Advocate Agustín Montañez Allman

By The Star Staff

As a powerful statement of respect, gratitude and remembrance, Veterans’ Advocate Agustín Montañez Allman is calling upon all citizens to honor, on Memorial Day, the ultimate sacrifice made by those who answered the call of duty to defend freedoms around the globe.

Today, the Bayamón National Cemetery will host its traditional ceremony at 9 a.m. In the afternoon, the official government event will take place in Aguadilla at 2 p.m., with Gov. Jenniffer González Colón attending. The Atlantic Garden Veterans Cemetery, associated with the Veterans’ Advocate’s Office, will serve as the site for the tribute.

Meanwhile, numerous municipalities will conduct tribute events to honor fallen military personnel in a demonstration of the deep gratitude held by island communities for those who took the oath to serve, regardless of the risks.

“Puerto Rican combatants have consistently proven their commitment to their oath of service with unparalleled honor and dignity,” said Montañez Allman, who is a decorated veteran for his role in the liberation of Kuwait. “They embody discipline and heroism, and above all, exhibit humility and the strength needed to confront the challenges of combat.”

In addition, Montañez Allman posthumously recognized Puerto Rican soldiers awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by the U.S. president. The honorees include Fernando L. García, Juan E. Negrón, Demensio Rivera, Miguel A. Vera, Carlos James Lozada, Humbert Roque Versace Ríos, Félix M. Conde-Falcón, Eurípides Rubio and Héctor Santiago-Colón, each of whom made the supreme sacrifice on the battlefield to save their fellow soldiers.

The veterans’ advocate also emphasized the courage and heroism of the Borinqueneers of the 65th Infantry, one of the most distinguished military units in American history, which served valiantly during World War II and incredibly in the Korean War.

Initially intended to honor Union soldiers who died in the Civil War, Memorial Day has evolved to recognize the sacrifices of soldiers from all wars and military actions. Originally called “Decoration Day,” it was first commemorated at Arlington National Cemetery in May 1868, just three years after the Civil War concluded.

Some 230,000 Puerto Ricans have served in armed conflicts as members of the United States Army during events such as World War I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and conflicts in Libya, Lebanon, Panama, the Persian Gulf, Somalia and Afghanistan. Over a thousand of those brave individuals were killed in action, 5,170 were wounded, and some 8,500 are disabled. Among the 10,000 Puerto Ricans who participated in the Gulf War, nearly a thousand were women, showcasing the significant contributions of all members of the community.