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Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Participates in Public Launch Ceremony for El Yunque National Forest Quarter

RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico- Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi participated today at a ceremony to commemorate the release of the El Yunque National Forest Quarter. In his remarks, the Resident Commissioner said that the quarter would serve to educate American citizens about El Yunque, which is the only tropical rainforest in the National Park System, and about Puerto Rico more generally.

The Resident Commissioner was accompanied at the launch ceremony by the Treasurer of the United States, Rosie Rios.

“El Yunque is a wonderful place that all Americans can be proud of. I am so pleased that the U.S. Mint is honoring the national forest through its ‘America the Beautiful Quarters Program.’ This marks the third time in the last several years that Puerto Rico has been an important part of the federal government’s efforts to celebrate our nation’s special places and diverse cultures,” said Pierluisi.

In 2009, the U.S. Mint, as part of the “State Quarters Program” established by Congress, released a quarter for Puerto Rico that features El Morro’s sentry box and the Island’s “Flor de Maga.” In 2011, the U.S. Postal Service introduced a commemorative stamp for Puerto Rico that features the local bird known as “San Pedrito.” The El Yunque quarter features the Puerto Rico “coqui” frog sitting on a leaf and the endangered Puerto Rico parrot, and the coin is engraved with the words “El Yunque, Puerto Rico.”

“As an integral part of the United States, Puerto Rico has contributed immensely to our nation. Whenever there has been conflict, the people of Puerto Rico have been there. In the arts, sports, science and countless other fields, Puerto Ricans have enriched America’s culture and history. It is only fitting that the beautiful natural wonder that is El Yunque has been included in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program, which honors 56 national sites in each state, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories,” said Pierluisi.

The El Yunque Quarter is the 11th quarter in the 56-quarter program to be released, and 50 million of them will be minted.

Prior to the ceremony, in which Forest Supervisor Pablo Cruz participated, the Resident Commissioner and the Treasurer of the United States showed the quarter to students at Carmen Feliciano Middle School in Río Grande.