Reservists honor fallen servicemembers

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Amaani Lyle
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AFNS) --  Puerto Rico officials and senior military leaders gathered to honor fallen Puerto Rican military members at the Capitol's Monument of Remembrance, or El Capitolio's El Monumento de la Recordacion, during a wreath laying ceremony as part of the 80th League of United Latin American Citizens convention here July 14. 

Tomas Rivera-Schatz, the president of the senate of Puerto Rico, LULAC National President Rosa Rosales, and Army Brig. Gen. Antonio Vincens, the adjutant general of the Puerto Rico National Guard, joined participants in a 60-second moment of silence before placing the wreath against the monument, etched with names of more than 2,000 citizens of the U.S. territory who gave the ultimate sacrifice in support of the nation's wars. 

Mr. Rivera-Schatz expressed his gratitude to the members of the Air Force Reserve Command who attended the ceremony. 

"We're very proud of our Air Force Reserve Command and fully support the partnership we have developed with it," Mr. Rivera-Schatz said. "I'd like to thank all the reservists who are here today to take part in this ceremony." 

Ms. Rosales said, through LULAC, she'll remain steadfast in her commitment to advance the Latino agenda with the new administration and amplify the voices of Latinos who help protect the nation. 

The 115,000 member-strong LULAC, the oldest Hispanic organization in the U.S., focuses efforts on advancing the education, economic conditions, health and civil rights of Latino Americans through community-based programs, LULAC officials said. 

"It is important to maintain our strong AFRC alliance and we're honored to give tribute to those in uniform who, with the U.S., ensure we sustain liberties," Ms. Rosales said, standing before the monument. 

What the Monument of Remembrance represents, much like Puerto Rico itself, is steeped in history. The black granite wall was the brainchild of former President of the Senate Hon. Charlie Rodriguez, who authored the legislation to appropriate the first $100,000 to erect the wall. An additional $1.2 million in grants and public support helped ensure the monument will forever memorialize the thousands of Puerto Rican men and women who have served in every conflict in which the U.S. has been involved. 

"This monument is an excellent way to honor the sacrifices of Puerto Ricans, who, per capita, have given the greatest loss of life in support of U.S. wars," Mr. Rodriguez said. 

The former senator explained that because so many Puerto Ricans who serve claim their home of record in U.S., the actual statistics of their participation is inadequately represented. 

Currently, portraits of five Medal of Honor recipients hang in the halls of El Capitolio: Marine Corps Pfc. Fernando Garcia, Army Pfc. Carlos James Lozada, Army Capt. Eupides Rubio, Army Spc. Class Hector Santiago-Colon and Army Capt. Humbert Roque Versace. 

AFRC is a long-standing supporter of and partner with LULAC. More than 70 Reservists attended the LULAC convention and exposition July 13 through 18. For more information, visit www.lulac.org.