Boston politicians honor Puerto Rican veteran community during Memorial Day event

Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald on May 26, 2025

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BOSTON — A group of elected officials gathered in South Boston Monday afternoon to honor Puerto Rican veterans who died in the line of duty, with some politicians contrasting the act of honoring military service against President Donald Trump’s first months in the White House.

Rep. John Moran, a South End Democrat, said he had a “deep feeling of gratitude for the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.” But he also said he had a “new resolve” to make sure their deaths or service were not in vain.

“Our country is experiencing perilous times caused by the chaotic behavior of our president, and I am reminded every day that indeed, freedom is not free,” Moran said. “Eleanor Roosevelt, who visited Puerto Rico on March 13, 1944, once said that freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility.”

Mayor Michelle Wu also made a reference to divisive politics in Washington, D.C., during the Memorial Day event.

“At a time when there are some in this country who are trying to divide us and make claims about who belongs, who doesn’t belong, I just want to say that there is nothing more American than the way our Puerto Rican community has shown up time and time again to defend this home that we share,” she said.

The event was held at the Puerto Rican Veterans Memorial on Washington Street. Wu and other elected officials laid two wreaths to honor soldiers and service members who have died.

Boston Veterans Service Commissioner Robert Santiago said Puerto Rican men and women “have served with courage and unwavering loyalty.”

“The history of Puerto Rican veterans is a testament to our courage, our resilience, and our patriotism. Puerto Ricans have officially served in the United States military since World War I, a proud legacy that spans over a century,” Santiago said. “Despite facing challenges of language barriers, prejudice, and many times limited recognition, we as Puerto Rican veterans have made invaluable contributions to the many communities we live in.”

Antonio Molina, a Puerto Rican Vietnam veteran who was wounded in combat in 1965, said the Puerto Rican Veterans Memorial is the only plaza in the United States dedicated to veterans originally from Puerto Rico.

“We are proud to have served our nation, and as I tell folks, without the U.S. Armed Forces, we probably wouldn’t be here today. We serve. We defended our liberty because, you know, Liberty is not free. La libertad no es gratis,” Molina said. “You have to pay for it.”

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