About Us
President: Jaime Rodriguez
A Vietnam Combat Army Veteran 1968-1970. Infantry 11B20. He obtained his Bachelor Degree from the Catholic University in Ponce, PR and his Master Degree from the School of Education at Harvard University. He was an Administrator for The Cardinal Cushing Hospital. for the Spanish Speaker in the early 1970’s, worked at ABCD in the mid 70s, and he was a Team Leader of the Federal Outreach Center in Boston designing Outreach Centers around the United States and Puerto Rico in the 1980’s. He retired after 22 years as a Research Coordinator for The William Joiner Center for the Study of War and Social Consequences at the University of Massachusetts, Boston Campus. He has received numerous awards for his outstanding contributions. He will keep the Organization focused so it can reach its goal.
First Vice President: Mr. Antonio “Tony” Molina
A former United States Marine was the first Puerto Rican wounded in Vietnam and was awarded a Purple Heart medal. His responsibility will be to oversee the design, the construction of the Monument after Board approved. Mr. Molina has devoted a great deal of time and effort to other causes and organizations that promote the welfare of Boston’s Puerto Rican community.
Second Vice President: Sixto Escobar
He is an Air Force veteran and Chairman of the organization’s fundraising committe. He served during the Cold War and beginning of the Vietnam War. He holds a Masters in City Planning from Harvard University and a Bachelors in Urban Affairs from Boston University. Sixto has an eclectic employment background that includes broadcasting, planning, public affairs, management of non-profit organizations. He has served in a number of board of directors. In his spare time he enjoys watercolor painting, photography and golf. He is a resident of Lynn. You can reach him at sescobar5@verizon.net.
Clerk: Mr. Rafael Rodriguez
An Army veteran. . A graduate of Cathedral High School in Boston’s South End. He holds a degree in English from UMass Boston and has been an exceptional educator. He is committed to project in honor of his late son Rafael Armando R0driguez who served in the US Navy. He is responsible keeping accurate records of the organization’s meetings. He is also responsible for the organization’s archives, both in electronic and hard copies.
Treasurer: Mrs. Ines Artu
She earned her Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies at Cambridge College. She works for the Boston Public Schools as a Paraprofessional School Librarian for over 21 years. She has served as treasurer of the Puerto Rican festival for 3 years, organized the Pageant of Puerto Rican Festival and assisted in organizing the Festival’s Parade. She also served as Vice-President of the Social Committee of the Hispanic Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Sargent of Arms: Dr. Isaías Sepulveda
Army Chemical Corp Unit, Commander. His unit was deployed to Iraq to combat in 1991. Dr Sepulveda is a staff psychiatrist at the Veterans Boston Healthcare System Brockton campus.
Archivist:Mrs. Carmen Colombani
A community leader with outstanding participation in numerous and prominent cultural and political activities who has been awarded multiple recognitions for her outstanding participation. She will organized and keep all the documents of the Organization. This includes but may not be limited to minutes, By-Laws, Articles of Incorporation, invitations, flyers, pictures, etc. She will also organize a group called Amigos del Monumento to help the Organization advance the fulfillment of its mission.
Michelle Wu
She is a South End resident and Chair of the Boston Ward 4 Democratic Committee. She has worked at ¿Oíste? and assisted with immigration law cases at Boston Medical Center’s Medical-Legal Partnership. Michelle is proud to serve the Puerto Rican Veterans Monument Square Association, in part as tribute to her grandfather’s legacy as a career military man in Taiwan. She is actively involved with civic and community efforts in the South End, Chinatown, Roxbury, and throughout the city of Boston. In addition to her work with PRVMSA, she is Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party’s Affirmative Action Outreach Committee and also serves on the Boards of the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus Young Professionals Committee, the Kwong Kow Chinese School in Chinatown, and the RoxVote Coalition. Michelle is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Harvard College.
Mrs. Ramona Salas
She has been vastly recognized for her leadership participation in multiple organizations. She is well known to excel at her executive level position at the City of Boston. She will be responsible to represent the Organization at the City Level. She will assist in identifying, funding resources from the City Council, Boston Redevelopment Authority and others sources from the city that are available or may be available for Project like this one.
Mr. Cruz Sanabria
Cruz Sanabria enlisted at the age of 18 in the United States Marine Corps and served with the Third Maries Kilo Company 3/3 in Vietnam. He was awarded a combat – related Purple Heart and received 5 citations of service. Mr. Sanabria received a Bachelors of Arts at the University of Massachusetts, Boston and a Master in Education from Lesley University. He teaches in the Boston Public School, and is a resident of Brookline, MA.
