Legacy of ‘Borinqueneers’ honored during Memorial Day ceremony.

Monday’s Memorial Day ceremony at the Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico in San Juan featured the solemn presentation of the flags of the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as the POW/MIA flag and the America250 commemorative flag -- part of a national initiative marking 250 years of U.S. history.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Puerto Rico Convention Center District Authority held a Memorial Day commemorative ceremony on Monday morning at the Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico in San Juan, paying tribute to the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces and to those who gave their lives in the line of duty.

The ceremony featured the solemn presentation of the flags of the U.S. and Puerto Rico, as well as the POW/MIA flag and the America250 commemorative flag -- part of a national initiative marking 250 years of U.S. history.

The event brought together veterans, active-duty military personnel, soldiers’ families, representatives of the island government, and special guests in a formal act of remembrance, reflection and recognition. As part of the ceremony, attendees received the “Remembrance Poppy,” an internationally recognized symbol honoring the men and women who have served and sacrificed their lives in military service.

Adhering to official protocol, the ceremony included the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Nesdiel Rivera, the state coordinator for Generation250 -- as well as the “Fallen Comrade Table” ceremony, a military tradition used to honor soldiers killed in combat, those missing in action, and prisoners of war.

The event also featured a special tribute to the historical legacy of the 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the “Borinqueneers,” recognizing the contributions and service of generations of Puerto Ricans within the United States Armed Forces.

During the ceremony, 98-year-old Borinqueneer veteran Ismael Heredia symbolically received the America250 commemorative flag from Sergeant Aníbal Rodríguez -- a member of the current 65th Infantry Regiment and the grandson of a Borinqueneer -- representing the continuity of service and legacy across generations.

“The generations that today enjoy freedom and stability have inherited a historical responsibility: to remember. This ceremony seeks precisely that -- to ensure that the sacrifice of those who served is never relegated to the past, but rather remains ever-present within our collective memory,” stated Veronica Ferraiuoli Hornedo, executive director of the Convention Center District Authority. “For Puerto Rico, participating in the America250 commemorative initiatives also represents an acknowledgment of the historical imprint that thousands of Puerto Ricans have left through their service, bravery, and commitment to entire generations.”

Public Safety Secretary Gen. Arturo Garffer delivered a special message in honor of the veterans and military personnel in attendance.

“On Memorial Day, we not only honor those who gave their lives to defend freedom and democracy, but we also reaffirm our collective duty to keep their memory alive,” he said.

Resident commissioner pays Memorial Day tribute in Morovis

Also on Monday, Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera participated in the official Memorial Day ceremony at the Puerto Rico National Cemetery in Morovis, alongside U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).

“This Memorial Day calls upon us not only to remember the fallen but to reflect on the price of the freedoms we enjoy,” Hernández Rivera stated in written remarks.

The ceremony brought together veterans, family members of fallen service members, military leaders, public officials, and community members to pay tribute to the Puerto Rican men and women who died in military service.

“For over a century, Puerto Rico has answered every call to service,” the resident commissioner said. “From Korea and Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan, generations of Puerto Ricans have served with extraordinary bravery and a profound sense of duty.”

During the event, Hernández Rivera highlighted Puerto Rico’s military legacy and the service of the Borinqueneers. He also remembered Puerto Ricans who were awarded the Medal of Honor for giving their lives to save comrades in combat.

“Today we honor their sacrifice and renew our commitment to be worthy of it,” he added.

Hernández Rivera also paid tribute to the memory of Major Ariana Linse Savino, a Puerto Rican Air Force officer who died this year while serving in Iraq.

Puerto Rico has maintained a legacy of military service for over a century, with Puerto Ricans participating in the major military conflicts involving the United States.