DENVER, Colo. (June 30, 2015) — Martin Truex Jr.’s Furniture Row Chevrolet will carry a special logo as part of NASCAR’s Salute to Veterans for Sunday’s (July 5th) Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway.
The logo that will appear on the lower quarter panels of the No. 78 Chevy will be Puerto Rico’s 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the Borinqueneers, who participated in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the War on Terror.
For their distinguished service as allies of the United States, the Borinqueneers were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President Barack Obama on June 14, 2014.
“It is our honor to celebrate the heroic contributions of our friends from Puerto Rico for their acts of bravery and fight to preserve democracy,” said Furniture Row Racing team owner Barney Visser, a U.S. Army veteran, who served in Vietnam. “To receive the Congressional Gold Medal demonstrates the highest standard of heroism and patriotism that the Borinqueneers have exemplified throughout the history of the 65th Infantry Regiment.”
The Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award bestowed by the United States Congress, has been awarded to minority veterans who served in segregated military units, including the Native American Navajo Wind Talkers, the Japanese American Nisei Soldiers, and the African American Tuskegee Airmen.
Rafael A. Fantauzzi, president and CEO of the National Puerto Rican Coalition stated the following about the Borinqueneers, “For their dedicated service in Korea alone, the Borinqueneers received 10 Distinguished Service crosses, 256 Silver Stars, 606 Bronze Stars and 2,771 Purple Hearts. These brave soldiers overcame the hurdles of segregation and prejudice while protecting our nation’s interests and impacting American history and culture.”
The Borinqueneer veterans will participate in a NASCAR media event Sunday at 6:15 p.m. ET in the Daytona infield media center and will also be on the stage during the prerace ceremony at 7 p.m.
For more information about the Borinqueneers go to:Â http://www.nprcinc.org/
