List of Puerto Rican Presidential Citizens Medal recipients

Last updated

Puerto Rican recipients of the Presidential Citizens Medal
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg
Presidential Citizens Medal.png
Presidential Citizens Medal
Presented by
Seal of the President of the United States.svg
President of the United States

This is a list of notable Puerto Ricans who were awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal . The list includes people who were born in Puerto Rico, people who are of full or partial Puerto Rican ancestry, such as Victoria Leigh Soto whose father is Puerto Rican. It also includes other residents and/or immigrants of other ethnic heritages who have made Puerto Rico their home, and who are recognized for their life and/or work.

Contents

Three Puerto Ricans have been awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal, an award bestowed by the President of the United States. It is the second highest civilian award in the United States, second only to the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Established on November 13, 1969, it recognizes individuals "who have performed exemplary deeds or services for his or her country or fellow citizens". The award is only eligible to United States citizens and may be awarded posthumously. [1] Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente was also the posthumous recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. [1] [2]

Recipients of the Presidential Citizens Medal

The following people are the recipients of the Presidential Citizens Medal: [2]

NameYear awardedOccupation
Roberto Clemente marines shot.jpg

Roberto Clemente [3]
(USMC picture)
1973
(posthumous)
Baseball Hall of Famer
Helen Rodriguez-Trias.JPG

Helen Rodríguez Trías [4]
2001Pediatrician, educator,
and leader in public health

Victoria Leigh Soto [5]
(Puerto Rican father)
2012
(posthumous)
Teacher

See also

Related Research Articles

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award of the United States, along with the Congressional Gold Medal. It is an award bestowed by the president of the United States to recognize people who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors." The award is not limited to U.S. citizens and, while it is a civilian award, it can also be awarded to military personnel and worn on the uniform. It was established in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy, superseding the Medal of Freedom that was established by President Harry S. Truman in 1945 to honor civilian service during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roberto Clemente</span> Puerto Rican baseball player (1934–1972)

Roberto Enrique Clemente Walker was a Puerto Rican professional baseball right fielder who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates. After his early death, he was posthumously inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973, becoming both the first Caribbean and the first Latin-American player to be enshrined. Because he died at a young age and had such a historic career, the Hall of Fame changed its rules of eligibility. As an alternative to a player having to be retired for five years before eligibility, a player who has been deceased for at least six months is eligible for entry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luis A. Ferré</span> Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

Don Luis Alberto Ferré Aguayo was a Puerto Rican engineer, industrialist, politician, philanthropist, and a patron of the arts. He was the governor of Puerto Rico from 1969 to 1973. He was the founder of the New Progressive Party, which advocates for Puerto Rico to become a state of the United States of America. He is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Index of Puerto Rico–related articles</span>

The following is an alphabetical list of articles related to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puerto Rican recipients of the Navy Cross</span>

Puerto Ricans have served as members of the United States Armed Forces and have fought in every major conflict in which the United States has been involved from World War I onward. Many Puerto Ricans, including those of Puerto Rican descent, have distinguished themselves during combat as members of the five branches of the U.S. Military, the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and the Coast Guard.

Commencing with World War I, Puerto Ricans and people of Puerto Rican descent have participated as members of the United States Armed Forces in every conflict in which the United States has been involved. Accordingly, thousands of Puerto Ricans served in the Armed Forces of the United States during the Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War. Hundreds of them died, either killed in action (KIA) or while prisoners of war (POW). The Vietnam War started as a Cold War, and escalated into a military conflict that spread to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1959 to April 30, 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helen Rodríguez Trías</span> American pediatrician and activist (1929–2001)

Helen Rodríguez Trías was an American pediatrician, educator and women's rights activist. She was the first Latina president of the American Public Health Association (APHA), a founding member of the Women's Caucus of the APHA, and a recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal. She is credited with helping to expand the range of public health services for women and children in minority and low-income populations around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">65th Infantry Regiment</span> Puerto Rican regiment of the United States Army

The 65th Infantry Regiment, nicknamed "The Borinqueneers" during the Korean War for the original Taíno Indian name for Puerto Rico (Borinquen), is a Puerto Rican regiment of the United States Army. The regiment's motto is Honor et Fidelitas, Latin for Honor and Fidelity. The Army Appropriation Bill created by an act of Congress on 2 March 1899, authorized the creation of the first body of native troops in Puerto Rico. On 30 June 1901, the "Porto Rico Provisional Regiment of Infantry" was organized. On 1 July 1908, Congress incorporated the regiment into the Regular Army as the Puerto Rico Regiment of Infantry, United States Army. On 14 May 1917, the regiment was activated and additional men were assigned, with the unit being sent to serve at Panama. On 4 June 1920, the regiment was renamed 65th Infantry. During World War II, the regiment saw action throughout Europe, especially France and Germany, participating in Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno and Rhin. Several Purple Hearts were awarded posthumously to members of the 65th Regiment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria Leigh Soto</span> American teacher and murder victim

Victoria Leigh Soto was an American teacher who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. After the gunman, Adam Lanza entered the school, she hid her students; when the students later ran from their hiding places, she was reportedly shot four times by Lanza and died trying to shield them with her body. She has since been hailed as a hero. She is a posthumous recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of women in Puerto Rico</span> From the era of the Taíno who inhabited the island

The recorded history of Puerto Rican women can trace its roots back to the era of the Taíno, the indigenous people of the Caribbean, who inhabited the island that they called "Boriken" before the arrival of Spaniards. During the Spanish colonization the cultures and customs of the Taíno, Spanish, African and women from non-Hispanic European countries blended into what became the culture and customs of Puerto Rico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juan E. Negrón</span> Puerto Rican Medal of Honor recipient

Master Sergeant Juan E. Negrón was a member of the United States Army who served in the 65th Infantry Regiment during the Korean War. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for his actions during combat in the Chinese Spring Offensive at Kalma-Eri, North Korea, on April 28, 1951, which was posthumously upgraded to the Medal of Honor in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demensio Rivera</span> Puerto Rican U.S. Medal of Honor recipient

Private Demensio Rivera was a United States Army veteran of the Korean War who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross; the award was upgraded in 2014, decades after his death, to the Medal of Honor.

Puerto Rico topics have been featured on the stamps of Spain and of the United States. Spanish stamps are found at Postage stamps and postal history of Puerto Rico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal</span> Congressional Gold Medal awarded to Puerto Ricos 65th Infantry Regiment

The "Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal" is a Congressional Gold Medal awarded to Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry Regiment by President Barack Obama, at an official ceremony on June 10, 2014. On May 19, 2014, the United States House of Representatives passed the Bill, known as HR 1726 and three days later on May 22, 2014, the Senate approved Bill S. 1174. With the approval of both houses, the president signed the legislation which awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to the 65th Infantry, the first segregated Hispanic military unit, and the first unit of the Korean War, to receive such distinction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vera Clemente</span> Puerto Rican philanthropist (1941–2019)

Vera Clemente was a Puerto Rican philanthropist, head of the Roberto Clemente Foundation. She founded a sports education facility in Puerto Rico and was a Goodwill Ambassador for Major League Baseball. She was the wife of baseball player Roberto Clemente, who died in 1972, and the mother of sportscaster Roberto Clemente Jr. She went to the White House in 2003 to receive her husband's posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom.

References

  1. 1 2 "Presidential Citizens Medal" . Library Thing.[ better source needed ]
  2. 1 2 "Presidential Medal of Freedom". NNDB.
  3. "Remarks at a Ceremony Honoring Roberto Clemente". The American Presidency Project.
  4. "President Clinton Awards the Presidential Citizens Medals". The White House. January 8, 2001. Archived from the original on August 1, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  5. "President Obama Remarks and list of Recipients of 2012 Presidential Citizens Medals". Politisite. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2023.