Senate Resolution No. 4493

BY: Senator DILAN

URGING the Secretary of the Interior to recognize
the historical significance of Roberto Clemente's
place of death near Pinones in Loiza, Puerto Rico,
by adding it to the National Register of Historic
Places

WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente was an American baseball legend who
embodied the values of a model citizen; and

WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente won two Major League Baseball World Series
Championships, was named World Series Most Valuable Player, and was an
All-Star for 12 seasons; and

WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente served this Nation as a United States
Marine Corps Reservist; and

WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente was the first Puerto Rican inducted into
the Baseball Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente was inducted into the Marine Corps Sports
Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente was committed to caring and helping those
in need, regardless of their location; and

WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente selflessly chose to travel to an
earthquake-ridden Nicaragua to provide humanitarian aid; and

WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente's plane crashed shortly after taking off
from San Juan-Isla Verde International Airport/Aeropuerto Internacional
do Isla Verde on December 31, 1972; and

WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente was only 38 years old when he tragically
passed away; and

WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente's passion and advocacy demonstrated the
positive influence that professional athletes could have in improving
the lives of others; and

WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente challenged the stereotypes that had
marginalized native Spanish speakers in this Nation and remains an icon
to many Puerto Ricans and Latinos in the United States and Latin
America; and

WHEREAS, Major League Baseball presents an annual Roberto Clemente
Award to the player that best embodies Roberto Clemente's value of
service to others and represents the game of baseball through
extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy, and
positive contributions, both on and off the field; and

WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente was posthumously awarded the Presidential
Medal of Freedom, Presidential Citizens Medal, and the Congressional
Gold Medal for his civic and charitable contributions; and


WHEREAS, The crash site in the adjacent area to Playa Aviones in the
municipality of Loiza, Puerto Rico, was the last place Roberto Clemente
graced this world; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the memory of Roberto Clemente as a great humanitarian and
athlete; to recognize Roberto Clemente as the embodiment of a baseball
legend that contributed to the betterment of society; and to request
that the Secretary of the Interior recognize the crash site of Roberto
Clemente's airplane and the adjacent land by adding such site to the
National Register of Historic Places.