User:Marine 69-71/Personal Milestones

Personal Milestones and Honors

I was interviewed by Joan Fragaszy, a historian working at the Center for History and New Media at George Mason University (http://chnm.gmu.edu/). According to them "they are very interested in digital historical works, including people writing history on Wikipedia."

I feel honored that "Virtual Boricua" has included four of my articles (Kirk Acevedo, Julia de Burgos, John Leguizamo and Edwin Torres (Judge)) among it's "Best Boricua Related Websites" links.^[1]

I have also the honor of being mentioned in "El Boricua", in the website's news page for my article on Luis R. Esteves.^[2]

On September 2005, I was named "Editor of the Puerto Rican Military History Channel" of "El Boricua" a monthly cultural magazine.^[3]

On May 2006, ASPIRA Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture linked my User Page to their Famous Puertoricans biography section.^[4]

On August 1, 2006, President George W. Bush signed Public Law 109-253 which contains the biography of Dr. Jose Celso Barbosa, which I wrote.

On August 6, 2006, I received this e-mail "I also will be letting my listeners know about you and your site on sunday On WCLM AM radio in Richmond, Virginia"

On September 7, 2006, an article in the newspaper "Claridad" of Puerto Rico stated that I am "the Puerto Rican who has made the most contributions to Wikipedia."^[5]

On September 8, 2006, the President of the Puerto Rican Senate, Senator McClintock invited me for the unveiling of the names of various Puerto Ricans killed in action which were inscribed in "El Monumento de la Recordacion" on Memorial Day of 2007, as a result of my work in Wikipedia.

On October 27, 2006, I received an e-mail from the office of United States Congressman Jose Serrano, congratulating me on my work in Wikipedia stating that I should get in "touch" with them.

I was invited to and attended the reunion of the families of William Knouts and David M. Gonzales, recipient of the Medal of Honor, on Memorial Day of 2007 in Powder Springs, Georgia. I helped the Kouts family find the Gonzales family bringing to an end 62 years of searching. I was featured in the Arizona Republic. ^[6]

On Memorial Day 2007, I was also honored in a speech by the President of the Puerto Rican Senate, the Honorable Kenneth McClintock for my work about Puerto Rico in Wikipedia.

On November 28, 2007, The Senate of Puerto Rico paid me a tribute and I was honored by the Senate of Puerto Rico with a Resolution # 3603 in recognition of my work on behalf of Puerto Rico in Wikipedia. The President of the Puerto Rican Senate, Honorable Kenneth McClintock presented me with the resolution.^[7]

On January 30, 2008, I was featured in an article in the Phoenix Republic titled "Author details contributions of Puerto Ricans"^[8]

On March 12,2008, I was named the Official Historian of the "Association of Naval Service Officers"^[9]

On May 26, 2008, I was publicly recognized by the Government of Puerto Rico as a Historian who has written the biographies of prominent Puerto Ricans who have served in the military. Also, present in my recognition was the former President of the United States Bill Clinton and his wife, New York State Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. Brigadier General Hector E. Pagan, the Deputy Commanding General of the United States Army Special Warfare Center and School, presented me with a USAJFKSWCS Medal of Excellence.^[10]^[11]

On June 8. 2009, the Chief of the Maintenance Management, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Fwd. Cpl . R.P. Lemiszki, honored me with a United States Flag which was flown over the the 2nd Marine Aircraft (Fwd) Headquarters, Marine Air Base, Al Asad, Iraq during Operation Iraqui Freedom.

On October 5, 2009, I was honored by Brigadier General Rafael O'Ferrall, the Deputy Commanding General for the Joint Task Force at Guantanamo, Cuba with the "Commander's Coin for Excellence" together with a certificate which states:Tony the Marine, Thank you for your watch of Puerto Rico's values and history, it is people like you who maintain alive our customs and traditions.

On August 10, 2010, Secretary of State of Puerto Rico Kenneth D. McClintock during the welcoming Remarks at the Memorial Wall before the Presidential National Commission on the American Latino Museum in Puerto Rico stated that I was "Puerto Rico’s foremost military historian" ( I don't agree, but it sure feels good). ^[12]

On August 28, 2012, the "Latino Alliance" named me a "Champion of Character".^[13]

In November 2012, I was invited to become a member of the "Borinqueneer Congressional Gold Medal Alliance", an organizayion which is seeking the Congressional Gold Medal for Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry Regiment. ^[14] On April 13, 2016, leaders of the United States House and Senate awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to the 65th Infantry Regiment.

In December 2012, the Wikipedia Foundation honored me by including a short profile of me in their "Meet the Wikipedians".^[15]

In April 2013, the "Arizona Republic" published some of the photos which I have uploaded in a feature about local historic properties thereby, allowing me to share the images of places that I have seen with others who may never have the opportunity to do so.^[16]^[17]

On October 31, 2013, "Wikipedia" honored me with a blog.^[18]

On Veteran's Day 2013, Lt. Augusto Rodriguez, a Puerto Rican who served in theAmerican Civil War whom I discovered and wrote about in Wikipedia in April 2010,^[19] was recognized as Puerto Rico’s first known U.S. Armed Forces veteran.^[20]

In January 2014, the Wikimedia Foundation included my photo on the cover of their 2012-2013 Annual Report.^[21]

In March 2014, I received a book in the mail titled "Puertorriqueños Who Served With Guts, Glory, and Honor by : Greg Boudonck" where the pages 141 to 147 were about me. It was a total surprise, because I did not expect such an honor. I only expected a special mention because I provided some info. on some of our military heroes.^[22]

On May 7, 2014, PBS sent for me for a documentary interview about my experiences as a Hispanic during the Vietnam War. The interview took place on May 8, 2024 at the Embassy Hotel in Glendale, California. The documentary is titled “On Two Fronts: Latinos & Vietnam" and will be on PBS on September 22, 2015. Suzy, one of the PBS people, took me on a tour of Hollywood.^[23]

In May 2015, in the page 263 of the acknowledgments section of the book “War Against All Puerto Ricans, Revolution and Terror in America’s Colony” author Nelson Antonio Denis wrote the following:”Tony (the Marine) Santiago, creator of over six hundred Wikipedia articles on Puerto Rican history and biographies, was a key inspiration and advisor” ^[24]

In September 22, 2015, PBS aired the documentary "On Two Fronts: Latinos n Vietnam" where I participated with other veterans. I also appeared in television when I was interviewed in PBS' "Horizonte" by Jose Cardenas and in Univision by Jorge Valenzuela.^[25]^[26]

In 2016, The Wikimedia Foundation revealed the most detailed featured articles in its site. According to the Wikimedia Foundation, Wikipedia’s parent company, the article “The Military history of Puerto Rico” which I created, is ranked #4 among the featured articles in depth and high quality. I am credited by the foundation as being the person who mostly has maintained the articles' length and quality. ^[27]

In September 2022, I received the following message: "You've Been Included for the Next Edition of "Marquis Who's Who in America" from John Sartoris - Production Director at Marquis Who's Who in America.

Gallery

Milestones as a Wikipedian

Jose David Santiago (my son), newspaper "Claridad" contributor David Miró and myself.
(L-R) Myself with William Kouts and David Gonzales. JR. For 62 years, William Walter Kouts wondered what ever happened to the family of Medal of Honor recipient David M. Gonzales (Whose article I wrote), who in 1945 saved his life during WW II. Kouts daughter, Maribeth, asked me to help them in their quest because her father is in ill-health. After an extensive search, I was able to make contact with the surviving son of Gonzales, David Jr., who it so happens, always wondered what had happened to the men his father saved. Both families will met for the first time on Memorial Day 2007, an event which was covered by the press and I was invited to attend.
I received the Resolution of the Puerto Rican Senate #3603 from the then Honorable President of the Puerto Rican Senate Kenneth McClintock, honoring my work in Wikipedia.
(L-R) Mrs. McClintock, myself, Kenneth McClintock and Mrs. Milagros Santiago.
Members of the Puerto Rican Senate pay me tribute.
(L-R) Puerto Rico Secretary of State Kenneth McClintock, New York Senator Hillary Clinton , Tony Santiago, Milagros Santiago, Chelsea Clinton and former President of the United States Bill Clinton.
Senate of Puerto Rico Resolution #3603
Speech by U.S. Congressman Luis Fortuño, page 1
Speech by U.S. Congressman Luis Fortuño, page 2
2008 Memorial Day Speech page 1
2008 Memorial Day Speech page 2
2008 Memorial Day Speech page 3
USAJFKSWCS Medal of Excellence
Joint Task Force Commander's Coin for Excellence
Joint Task Force Certificate for Excellence
Cover of Wikimedia Foundation's 2012-2013 Annual Report.
Mylene Moreno (Documentary Producer) and Claudio Rocha (Cinematographer) set up the equipment used for my (Tony Santiago) interview and participation in a PBS documentary on May 8, 2012.
Susy Garciasalas (Associate Producer), Claudio Rocha (Cinematographer), myself (Tony Santiago) and Mylene Moreno (Documentary Producer) pose in the lobby of the Embassy Suites Hotel in Glendale, California on May 8, 2014 after my interview and participation in "On Two Fronts: Latinos and Vietnam" a PBS documentary.
Tony Santiago (L), Oscar Urrea (R) and journalist Jorge Valenzuela (center), when interviewed in Univision.