MILITARY

Congress honors Army's Borinqueneers with gold medal

Associated Press
Published | Updated

House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, from left, presents a Congressional Gold Medal to Sgt. Maj. Jose Colon and Col. Manuel Siverio Sr., in honor of the 65th Infantry Regiment - known as the Borinqueneers - for its pioneering military service, devotion to duty, and many acts of valor in the face of adversity, during a ceremony on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Wednesday, April 13, 2016. Witnessing the ceremony is Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) (The Associated Press)

Col. Manuel Siverio Sr., speaks after being presented by House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, with a Congressional Gold Medal in honor of the 65th Infantry Regiment - known as the Borinqueneers - for its pioneering military service, devotion to duty, and many acts of valor in the face of adversity, during a ceremony on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Wednesday, April 13, 2016. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) (The Associated Press)

House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., from left, presents a Congressional Gold Medal to Sgt. Maj. Jose Colon and Col. Manuel Siverio Sr., in honor of the 65th Infantry Regiment - known as the Borinqueneers - for its pioneering military service, devotion to duty, and many acts of valor in the face of adversity, during a ceremony on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Wednesday, April 13, 2016. Witnessing the ceremony is Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) (The Associated Press)

Leaders of the House and Senate have awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to the Army's 65th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Borinqueneers (bohr-ehn-kin-EERS').

The unit fought in World War I, World War II and the Korean War. The soldiers have earned numerous military awards, including a Medal of Honor, about 250 Silver Stars and more than 2,700 Purple Hearts.

The unit was first formed as Puerto Rican volunteers, and was redesignated as the 65th Infantry Regiment in 1920.

In a ceremony at the Capitol on Wednesday, House Speaker Paul Ryan and other leaders presented regiment members with the award.

Ryan said the members of the regiment "showed us time and time again that courage does not know color — that decency does not pick sides."