[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 236 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 236
Honoring the 125th anniversary of the Rough Riders in the Spanish
American War and designating June 2, 2023, as ``National Rough Rider
Day''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 1, 2023
Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself and Mr. Rubio) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Honoring the 125th anniversary of the Rough Riders in the Spanish
American War and designating June 2, 2023, as ``National Rough Rider
Day''.
Whereas the brief history of the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry Regiment
(referred to in this preamble as the ``Rough Riders'') fighting to
defend and protect the United States has made an indelible contribution
to the history of the United States;
Whereas the Rough Riders were 1 of 3 volunteer cavalry regiments created by
Congress on April 25, 1898, with Leonard Wood named Colonel of the
regiment and Theodore Roosevelt named Lieutenant Colonel of the
regiment;
Whereas, although the volunteer cavalry regiments were initially to recruit from
the Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma Territories, the notoriety
of the leaders of the Rough Riders inspired recruits from all portions
of the United States to go to San Antonio, Texas, to enlist;
Whereas the Rough Riders were given numerous nicknames, with the most prevalent
being ``Roosevelt's Rough Riders'';
Whereas the Rough Riders trained in Texas and were ordered on May 8, 1898, to
board 7 trains and proceed to Tampa, Florida;
Whereas June 2, 2023, marks the 125th anniversary of the Rough Riders arrival to
Tampa, Florida, to join the 5th Corps of the Army and await embarkation
for the invasion of Cuba;
Whereas the Rough Riders--
(1) were ordered to embark on June 8, 1898, with the Army invasion
fleet; and
(2) in their eagerness to be part of the invasion fleet, infamously
commandeered a train to take them to Port Tampa to embark;
Whereas, at Port Tampa, things were in great disarray, and the 5th Corps was
highly disorganized;
Whereas, in the confusion of moving the 5th Corps invasion forces on to the Army
invasion fleet transports--
(1) several 5th Corps regiments were assigned to the same transport
vessel, the S.S. Yucatan; and
(2) Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt got his men aboard the S.S. Yucatan,
and realizing that once aboard they would probably not be forced to
disembark, the Rough Riders stayed aboard, to the chagrin of the other
regiments;
Whereas the Army invasion fleet sailed on June 14 with the Rough Riders, and the
5th Corps landed at Daquiri, Cuba on June 22, 1898;
Whereas, on June 24, 1898, the Rough Riders, along with the 10th United States
Cavalry Regiment (referred to in this preamble as the ``Buffalo
Soldiers'')--
(1) led the advance of the 5th Corps; and
(2) met, engaged, and caused the retreat, of Spanish forces at the
Battle of Las Guasimas, while sustaining the first casualties of the Cuba
campaign;
Whereas, on July 1, 1898, the Rough Riders, under the command of the future
President Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt, led the charge at Kettle Hill
and San Juan Hill, serving alongside the Buffalo Soldiers;
Whereas, despite the Rough Riders sustaining considerable losses, the Rough
Riders participated in the siege of Santiago de Cuba and were present
for the surrender of the enemy forces, which signaled the end of
hostilities in Cuba;
Whereas, during the Cuba campaign, the courage and tenacity of the Rough Riders
in battle resulted in--
(1) 2 officers and 21 enlisted killed in action; and
(2) 7 officers and 97 enlisted wounded in action;
Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt was promoted to Colonel and the Rough
Riders proved their worth and lived up to the publicity they had already
received;
Whereas Colonel Roosevelt was nominated for and later received the Medal of
Honor for his leadership actions and bravery in leading from the front
at Kettle Hill and San Juan Hill;
Whereas, in August 1898, the Rough Riders departed Cuba for Montauk, New York,
and were disbanded on September 15, 1898;
Whereas from the formation of the Rough Riders to its disbandment, the Rough
Riders suffered a 37 percent casualty rate during the Cuba campaign, the
highest of any cavalry or infantry regiment in the Armed Forces;
Whereas, after their service, numerous members of the Rough Riders went on to
serve the United States in various roles, including--
(1) as President of the United States;
(2) as Secretary of the Navy;
(3) as various State Governors;
(4) as Army Generals and Colonels;
(5) as educators; and
(6) in many other professions;
Whereas the history and military achievements of the members of the Rough
Riders, including their post-service contributions to the United States
and their fight to defend the United States and liberate an oppressed
people, warrant special expressions of the gratitude by the people of
the United States; and
Whereas the decedents and beneficiaries of the achievements of the Rough Riders
celebrate June 2, 2023, as the 125th Anniversary of the Rough Riders in
the Spanish American War: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates June 2, 2023, as ``National Rough Rider
Day''; and
(2) encourages the people of the United States to observe
the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
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