August 10, 2010 (received) - FLORIDA HOUSE RESOLUTION 9069 ADOPTED!
On April 22, 2010 the House of Representatives of the State of Florida adopted House Resolution 9069 urging the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee to issue a commemorative postage stamp of THE BORINQUENEERS of the 65th Infantry Regiment “as a means by which the American public might gain an increased awareness of the Borinqueneers’ extraordinary service to our nation.” The Resolution further stated: “Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to Governor Luis Fortuño, Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, to the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Legislative Assembly of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, to the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee of the United States Postal Service, and to John E. Potter, United States Postmaster General.”
We would like to thank Representative Darren M. Soto for initiating this Resolution and for his efforts and support of THE BORINQUENEERS Stamp Campaign! We now have our first STATE RESOLUTION!!
May, 2010 - A Response from the Postal Service
The Borinqueneers Stamp Committee received a response from the U.S. Postal Service that they were not able to recommend stamp issuance of a commemorative stamp in honor of THE BORINQUENEERS. They stated that the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee had reviewed this proposal at a previous meeting and determined that it did not meet their basic criteria and guidelines. One of these guidelines states
Due to the large number of individual units with the military services, stamps will not be issued to honor individual sub-branches, units, or divisions of the military. Stamps may be issued for the major military services on 50-year anniversaries (or multiples) of their current organizational structure.
We would like to bring to your attention the exceptions that have been made to this guideline for stamps that were issued in honor of specific military units.
Rough Riders was the name bestowed on the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, one of three such regiments raised in 1898 for the Spanish-American War and the only one of the three to see action. A U.S. Postage Stamp was issued in 1948 commemorating the 50th anniversary of Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders.
Buffalo Soldiers originally were members of the U.S. 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, formed on September 21, 1866 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. A stamp commemorating them was issued in 1994.
We understand The Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee’s concern about being overwhelmed by requests from military units to be honored with stamps. On the other hand, we feel that the CSAC needs to again make an exception to their internal guideline and realize that certain military units such as THE BORINQUENEERS and some of our other minority veteran groups like the Tuskegee Airmen, the Japanese-American Nisei and the Native American Code Talkers, held a special and unique role in American history (just as the Rough Riders and Buffalo Soldiers did) and are particularly worthy of being honored with a stamp. It is obvious from the various stamp campaigns currently working to obtain commemorative stamps for these minority groups, that the American public strongly supports the creation of these stamps by the Postal Service and, as such, the CSAC should listen to the sentiment reflected by the public. All these factors for approval of a stamp are required by the Committee’s own guidelines: “stamp subjects that have the strongest appeal, that reflect public sentiment, and have the greatest historical significance and are educational.”
In addition, we feel that honoring our military and its soldiers is a more important reason for recognizing them with a stamp than many of the other subjects that have been chosen for stamps in the past. Although we understand the social value that a Micky Mouse (seven stamps issued so far), The Simpsons or Star Wars stamp offers the country, these cannot compare to the greater historical significance provided by honoring our minority veterans who overcame unique challenges of discrimination and segregation. Issuing a stamp series to honor our various minority groups would, in the words of William Gicker, creative director for the stamp program, “uplift the public and celebrate the best of America.”
The voice of the tens of thousands of supporters who have supported this recognition to our various minority veterans should be heard. In either case, the Borinqueneers Stamp Committee is committed in continuing its efforts to obtain a commemorative stamp honoring THE BORINQUENEERS of the 65th Infantry Regiment. But we will need your help!
Please continue collecting signatures, signing online entries and spreading the word about the campaign. We will also continue gaining the support of our politicians by requesting Letters of Support and Resolutions in support of the stamp.
May 10, 2010 - Letter of Support from Senator Stan Rosenberg of the Massachusetts Senate (Read the Letter).
May 5, 2010 - Article profiling the Borinqueneers Stamp Campaign on Times Herald Record Newspaper of Middletown, NY titled "Que Pasa: Stamp sought for Puerto Rican Army regiment".
April 27, 2010 - Additional signatures were sent to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee bringing the new total submitted to 8,006 signatures and 1,306 Online Petition entries.
April 9, 2010 – Borinqueneers Stamp Proposal Letter mailed to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee accompanied by 7,510 signatures, 1,160 Online Petition entries and Letters of Support from various politicians, organizations and individuals.
March & April, 2010 – Letters of Support received from:
NY State Senate Letter signed by 15 members of the New York Senate (William Larkin, John L. Sampson, John J. Bonacic, George D. Marziaz, John A. DeFrancisco, Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., Eric T. Schneiderman, Michael J. Razenhofer, Dale M. Volker, George Onorato, Elizabeth A. Little, Joseph A. Griffo, David J. Valesky, William J. Stachowski, Owen H. Johnson) (Read the letter)
State Representative Darren Soto of Florida (Read the letter)
Congressman Robert A. Brady of Pennsylvania (Read the letter)
State Senator William Larkin of New York (Read the letter)
State Representative Andres Ayala of Connecticut (Read the letter)
Hon. Hector Ferrer Rios (Puerto Rico Commonwealth Representative) (Read the letter)
Eddie A. Perez (Mayor of Hartford, CT) (Read the letter)
Nellie Pou (Assemblywoman – New Jersey) (Read the letter)
Councilor Jose Tosado (Springfield, MA) (Read the letter)
Councilwoman Nidia Lopez (Jersey City, NJ) (Read the letter)
Councilman Carlos Gonzalez (Newark, NJ) (Read the letter)
65th Infantry Retired and Veterans Association, Inc. (San Juan, PR)
New York League of Puerto Rican Women (Read the letter)
Resolutions/resolves passed or pending:
Resolution 701 Pennsylvania Assembly (introduced – not passed yet)
Resolve from Springfield, MA (passed) (Read the Resolve) March 23, 2010 – House Resolution No. 701 was introduced by various members of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, led by State Rep. Robert A. Brady, to the Committee on Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness urging the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee to issue a U.S. stamp honoring the heroism of THE BORINQUENEERS of the 65th Infantry Regiment. Once the Resolution is passed through Committee, it will go to the floor of the House for a vote. A special thank you to George Perez, Assistant to Rep. Brady, for his help in getting this resolution introduced. We urge all Pennsylvania residents to send letters, faxes or emails to their local state politicians encouraging them to pass this Resolution.
March 17, 2010 – Borinqueneers Stamp Committee - Biographies of Ruben Estrada, Noemi Figueroa Soulet, LTC Bill Rodriguez (Ret.) and 1SG Wilson Rodriguez (Ret.) (
Click here for PDF file 185KB.)
(in alphabetical order)
RUBEN ESTRADA (Monroe, NY)
“As a Boricua born and raised in El Barrio (NYC), I would proudly participate and assist with the agenda relative to the famous and brave BORINQUENEERS. Although I myself am not a veteran, my father was in WW2, Korea and Vietnam and relatives both sides of my parents were veterans.”
Ruben Estrada has a broad background in the Hispanic market, government affairs, community relations, radio broadcast, corporate diversity, public relations, advertising, legislation, media production. In 30 years of experience he has developed a reputation for creating and implementing effective strategic plans of corporate relations, public relations, and government affairs which include the use specialty promotions, strategic partnering, with community leaders, and media linkages. Additionally, he has been involved with community / public relations for a wide range of political, business, and large-scale special events. Active, Board Member SUNY Orange County Community College , Chairman- Board of Directors Newburgh Boxing Club Non Profit Youth Program Education thru Boxing, Hudson Valley Coordinator- Guardian Angels Inc, Community Patrol, Active Board member Housing Opportunities for Growth Advancement and Rehabilitation Inc. (HOGAR) Non Profit affordable Housing Program. Commissioner - Orange County Human Rights Commission, Former Board member United Way of Orange County, Founding Member Republican National Hispanic Assembly.
Noemi Figueroa Soulet (Crompond, NY)
“I believe a U.S. stamp would be a fitting tribute for these brave, forgotten soldiers.”
Noemi produced, wrote and directed the television documentary “The Borinqueneers” which premiered on PBS in 2007 and was also shown on the Armed Forces Network. She has conducted numerous presentations on the 65th Infantry at various corporations and community organizations and has been honored by the National Guard, Comité Noviembre of New York, NJ Statewide Parade Committee and the Latina Women’s Council of Mercer County, New Jersey. Born in Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico, she was raised in New York’s Spanish Harlem and has a degree in Education from New York University.
LTC GUILLERMO RODRIGUEZ (RET.) (Alexandria, VA)
“My father was a member of the 65th during the retrograde action surrounding the Chosin Reservoir, and subsequently the military actions at Kelly Hill and Jackson Heights. My interest in the Stamp Committee thus builds on my continued desire to contribute my time to a worthy endeavor honoring our Borinqueneers.”
Guillermo "Bill" Rodriguez is a former Army Intelligence officer (LTC Ret.). He is a 1975 graduate of the University of Puerto Rico, and its ROTC program. Since he retired in 1998, he has worked as a Defense Consultant. Bill maintains a Masters in Public Administration (Univ. of Oklahoma) and a Masters in Military Arts, School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS). His interest in the 65th Infantry stems from his involvement with Bart Soto and Ernest Acosta in approaching then Secretary of the Army Caldera to initiate a review of the military history surrounding the events at Kelly Hill and Jackson Heights. The result of this review resulted in a series of events for which he is very proud of: A monograph (researched and written by COL Villahermosa) providing the results of the Center for Military History review. This monograph highlighted the failures of leadership and the impact of discrimination on soldiers of the 65th. Their efforts also led to the exoneration of former 65th Battalion Commander LTC Ret. Betances.
1SG WILSON RODRIGUEZ (RET.) (Savannah, GA)
“I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make this happen. I'm very proud of our tradition and personally know the great efforts of the 65th in Korea. My father, BG (RET) Antonio Rodriguez Baliñas, served in the 65th and is a highly decorated Korean War veteran.”
After retiring from the Army in 2004, Wilson stayed in the Fort Stewart's, GA area (Savannah). Presently he is an Army Civilian working as a Plans Officer writing and overseeing Emergency and Contingency Plans for the Installation. “ I remember when my father used to tell us stories about the Korean War but it was not until I joined the service myself that really understood their actions in combat”. Wilson received the Bronze Star Medal with Valor device for heroism in combat operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He comes from a family with a long military tradition that started with his father. Two of his brothers served in the Army Reserve and Desert Storm. His son is a U.S. Marine stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC and he has a niece serving aboard the USS Reagan. February 28, 2010 – Deadline for signed petition forms due at El Pozo Productions extended.
February 15, 2010 – Signed petition forms due at El Pozo Productions.
November 2009 – El Pozo Productions initiates a nationwide petition campaign for a U.S. stamp commemorating “The Borinqueneers” of the 65th Infantry Regiment.
