Honor Clemente Crash Site

Senate Resolution No. 2104 BY: Senator SEPULVEDA CALLING on the United States Secretary of the Interior to add Roberto Clemente's place of death in Loiza, Puerto Rico to the National Register of Historical Places WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente Walker, born August 18, 1934, in Carolina, Puerto Rico, was an American baseball legend who played 18 seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League in Major League Baseball (MLB); and WHEREAS, Over his 18-year career, Roberto Clemente amassed numerous notable awards and achievements, including two World Series Championships, one World Series Most Valuable Player Award, one National League Most Valuable Player Award, 12 All-Star selections, 12 consecutive Gold Glove Awards, 3,000 career hits, and the only walk-off inside-the-park grand slam in professional baseball history; and WHEREAS, Outside of baseball, Roberto Clemente embodied the values of a model citizen through his service to the United States and humanitarian efforts throughout the world; and WHEREAS, Rather than play baseball in his native Puerto Rico during the 1958-59 MLB off-season, Clemente enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and served for six years as an infantryman; and WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente's various charitable and humanitarian efforts included hosting free baseball clinics for underprivileged youth, working tirelessly to promote greater accessibility and equality for Latino-Americans, and delivering significant financial aid to people in Puerto Rico and other countries in Latin America; and WHEREAS, On December 31, 1972, Roberto Clemente tragically died at the age of 38 when a plane he chartered to bring food and relief supplies to earthquake-ravaged Nicaragua crashed near Pinones, in Loiza, Puerto Rico shortly after takeoff; and WHEREAS, In 1973, after the mandatory five-year waiting period was waived to posthumously honor Roberto Clemente, he became the first Puerto Rican and first Latino inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame; and WHEREAS, In 1973, the "Commissioner's Award," given annually to the MLB player who "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement, and the individual's contribution to his team," was renamed the "Roberto Clemente Award" in honor of Clemente's significant contributions on and off the baseball 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 State of New York has taken an active role in honoring the contributions of Roberto Clemente by dedicating various places in his honor, including the Roberto Clemente State Park; and WHEREAS, The United States Department of the Interior administers the National Register of Historic Places, which is the official list of the United States' historic places worthy of preservation; and WHEREAS, It is fitting and proper that Roberto Clemente's place of death in Loiza, Puerto Rico, be added to the National Register of Historic Places, to honor and preserve the memory of an American baseball legend and humanitarian; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to call on the United States Secretary of the Interior to add Roberto Clemente's place of death in Loiza, Puerto Rico to the National Register of Historical Places; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the United States Secretary of the Interior.