Veterans to Receive Long Overdue Congressional Gold Medal

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today proclaimed June 14 as "Borinqueneers Day" in Illinois to honor the veterans of the legendary 65th Infantry Regiment, the all-Puerto Rican unit that distinguished itself in every United States war from 1898 to 2008. The United States Congress voted in May to issue the Congressional Gold Medal to the Borinqueneers.

"Few soldiers distinguished themselves on the battlefield as much as the Borinqueneers," Governor Quinn said. "The recent action by Congress to award them the Congressional Gold Medal is a long-overdue recognition of the Borinqueneers' contribution to our freedoms."

In addition to being Puerto Rican Day, June 14 marks the 61st anniversary of the Korean War's "Battle of Hill 412." Some 61,000 Puerto Ricans served in Korea, and at least 750 died at such decisive battles as the Chosin Reservoir, "Outpost Kelly" and the "Battle of Jackson Heights."

The Borinqueneers have a rich military history. Before formally organized as the 65th Infantry, Puerto Ricans fought the British in the American Revolution during General Bernardo de Gálvez's Gulf campaign. The first shots fired by U.S. forces at a German ship in World War I came from Lieutenant Teofilo Marxuach, based in the "El Morro" fort in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In both World Wars, the unit was sent to Panama to protect the Canal. In World War II, they also fought in North Africa, Corsica, France and Germany. More recently, Borinqueneers served in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa.

Other military units to earn the Congressional Gold Medal include the Tuskegee Airmen, Navajo "Code Talkers," Japanese-American Nisei soldiers and Women's Air Service Pilots (WASPs). Since its creation, members of the 65th Infantry earned ten Distinguished Service Crosses, 258 Silver Stars, 628 Bronze Stars and more than 2,700 Purple Hearts.

Coined in 1950, the term "Borinqueneers" is a combination of the Taino name for the island of Puerto Rico ("Borinquen") and the English word "buccaneers." The Governor will formally issue the proclamation this weekend near a school named in honor of a Borinqueneer, Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School.

Illinois has been home to people of Puerto Rican descent since the 1930s. Today, there are nearly 200,000 Illinois Puerto Ricans.

To view the proclamation, please visit http://www2.illinois.gov/gov/Documents/Proclamations/Borinqueneers%20Day.pdf.

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El Gobernador Quinn declara el "Día de los Borinqueños" para homenajear a los héroes de guerra puertorriqueños 

Los veteranos recibirán una Medalla de Oro del Congreso que debió haberles sido entregada hace tiempo

CHICAGO - El Gobernador Pat Quinn declaró hoy al 14 de junio como el "Día de los Borinqueños" en Illinois para homenajear a los veteranos del legendario 65º Regimiento de Infantería, la unidad integrada exclusivamente por puertorriqueños que se destacó en cada guerra de los Estados Unidos desde 1898 hasta 2008. El Congreso de los Estados Unidos votó en mayo para entregar la Medalla de Oro del Congreso a los Borinqueños.

"Pocos soldados se destacaron tanto en el campo de batalla como los Borinqueños", dijo el Gobernador Quinn. "La reciente medida del Congreso de entregarles la Medalla de Oro del Congreso es un reconocimiento largamente adeudado al aporte realizado por los Borinqueños a nuestras libertades".

Además de ser el Día de Puerto Rico, el 14 de junio marca el 61º aniversario de la "Batalla de Hill 412" en la Guerra de Corea. Unos 61.000 puertorriqueños combatieron en Corea, y al menos 750 de ellos fallecieron en batallas tan decisivas como la de la Reserva de Chosin, "Outpost Kelly" y la "Batalla de Jackson Heights".

Los Borinqueños tienen una rica historia militar. Antes de ser organizados formalmente como el 65º Regimiento de Infantería, los puertorriqueños combatieron a los británicos en la Revolución Americana durante la campaña del Golfo del General Bernardo de Gálvez. Los primeros disparos efectuados por las fuerzas de los EE.UU. a un barco alemán en la Primera Guerra Mundial provinieron del Teniente Teofilo Marxuach, apostado en el fuerte "El Morro" de San Juan, Puerto Rico. En ambas Guerras Mundiales, la unidad fue enviada a Panamá para proteger el Canal. En la Segunda Guerra Mundial, también combatieron en el Norte de África, Córcega, Francia y Alemania. En épocas más recientes, los Borinqueños sirvieron en Irak, Afganistán y el Cuerno de África.

Otras unidades militares que han recibido la Medalla de Oro del Congreso incluyen a los Aviadores de Tuskegee, los Navajo "Code Talkers", los soldados Nisei japoneses-americanos y las Mujeres piloto del Servicio Aéreo (WASP, por sus siglas en inglés). Desde su creación, los miembros del 65º Regimiento de Infantería recibieron diez Cruces por Servicio Distinguido, 258 Estrellas de Plata, 628 Estrellas de Bronce y más de 2.700 Corazones Púrpuras.

Acuñado en 1950, el término "Borinqueños" es una combinación del nombre taíno de la isla de Puerto Rico ("Borinquen") y la palabra del inglés "buccaneers" (bucaneros). El Gobernador emitirá formalmente la declaración este fin de semana cerca de la escuela Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School, nombrada así en homenaje a un integrante de los Borinqueños.

Illinois ha sido el hogar de personas de ascendencia puertorriqueña desde la década de 1930. En la actualidad, cerca de 200.000 puertorriqueños viven en Illinois.

Para obtener más información, visite http://www2.illinois.gov/gov/Documents/Proclamations/Borinqueneers%20Day.pdf.

Memphis, TN – June 11, 2014 – As we welcome the arrival of summer, it also signifies the arrival of another not-so-welcome season - tick season. TruGreen, America's number one lawn care provider, offers Midwestern homeowners a solution to reducing tick populations so they can enjoy their property all summer long.

A tick is an arachnid that feeds on the blood of animals and humans to survive. The tick commonly found in the Midwest is the blacklegged tick, also known as the deer tick. Deer ticks typically make their homes in the Northeast and Midwest, where there are plenty of wooded areas for them to hide. The tiny deer tick nymph is believed to be responsible for up to 90% of the transmission of tick-borne diseases to humans, including Lyme disease. Currently, there are no protective vaccines for humans for tick-borne diseases, so avoiding tick bites by reducing exposure is the best disease-prevention strategy.

Lyme disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected deer tick. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system.

Each year, more than 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), although estimates indicate that the number of Americans diagnosed with Lyme disease each year is around 300,000, making it the most commonly reported tick-borne illness in the United States.

What can be done?

According to the CDC, reducing exposure to ticks is the best defense against Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. A single springtime application of tick pesticide to your lawn can greatly reduce the number of ticks in your yard. The best time for the application to protect against Lyme disease is June when the ticks are in the nymph stage. If you live in an area prone to ticks, the CDC suggests you consider using a professional outdoor pest control company to help reduce the tick population in your yard.

"Using a professional outdoor pest control company should be part of a well-rounded, comprehensive defense program," said Ben Hamza, TruGreen Director of Technical Services. "Because ticks can congregate in backyards, it is especially important to protect yourself and your family so that you can fully enjoy your outdoor time without the worry of ticks and other outdoor pests."

Following are general tips from the CDC to help create a tick-safe zone to reduce ticks in your yard:

• Use a professional outdoor pest control company to control ticks
• Clear tall grasses and brush around homes and at the edge of lawns
• Place a barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas
• Mow the lawn frequently and keep leaves rakes
• Stack wood neatly and in a dry area away from the house or lawn
• Keep playground equipment, decks and patios away from wooded areas and in a sunny location if possible
• Remove any trash or debris from the yard that may give ticks a place to hide

About TruGreen

Memphis, Tenn.-based TruGreen is the nation's largest lawn care company, serving more than 1.7 million residential and commercial customers across the United States with lawn, tree and shrub care. Your lawn and landscape need ongoing attention to stay healthy. That's why TruGreen provides science-based solutions tailored to meet your specific needs. When combined with proper mowing and watering techniques, these services can maximize your lawn's potential. As the leader in the professional lawn care industry, TruGreen is committed to responsible lawn care, including offering and promoting the use of natural, organic services and sustainable practices. Today, there are approximately 250 TruGreen LawnCare branches in the United States and Canada, including about 35 franchise locations.Go to www.TruGreen.com or www.facebook.com/TruGreen for more information about TruGreen.

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• Develop a comprehensive approach to Mississippi River health and sustainability
• Encourage cooperative action for Mississippi River system health and sustainability
• Coordinate a national approach to Mississippi Watershed governance
• Engage the public to build political will

Davenport, Iowa (June 11, 2014) - A new exhibition will open Saturday at the Figge Art Museum by local artist and award-winning author, Arthur Geisert, of Bernard, Iowa.

From Pencil to Printed Page: Arthur Geisert's Thunderstorm includes over 180 sketches, plates, print states and hand-colored illustrations immortalized in Geisert's 2013 picture book Thunderstorm.

Figge visitors will have the unique opportunity to examine Geisert's trademark copperplate etchings, a technique that dates back to 1500, while also gaining insight into his artistic process. From his initial pencil sketches through four stages of printing states to the final, painstakingly hand-colored illustrations, the entire progression will be shown. In addition an assemblage of artist's tools and a printing press will be displayed.

When laid end-to-end, the illustrations complete a breathtaking 415 inch long panorama detailing the effects of a passing thunderstorm on a typical farm community one summer's afternoon.

Geisert grew up in Los Angeles, California, and claims not to have seen a pig until he was an adult. Trained as a sculptor in college, Geisert learned to etch at the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles. He has authored two dozen picture books, three of which have been named "best illustrated books" by The New York Times Book Review.

From Pencil to Printed Page: Arthur Geisert's Thunderstorm will be on view June 14 through September 14, 2014 in the ground floor Orientation Gallery.

Companion Event:

Thunderstorm Gallery Talk and Book Signing

7 p.m. Thursday, June 19
Meet and listen to a talk by children's author and illustrator Arthur Geisert at this Gallery Talk and book signing. Geisert will speak about the exhibition and his latest book, Thunderstorm. Free! Starting at 5 p.m. there will be a cookout on the back patio for $10 with a cash bar.

About the Figge Art Museum

The Figge Art Museum is located on the riverfront in downtown Davenport at 225 West Second Street. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday and Sundays 12-5 p.m. Thursdays the museum is open until 9 p.m. Admission to the museum and tour is $7. Admission is free to Figge members and institutional members and free to all on Thursday evenings from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. To contact the museum, please call 563.326.7804, or visit www.figgeartmuseum.org.