(Washington, DC) In a perfect example of bipartisanship, Congresswoman Corrine Brown was joined by 300 of her colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, to cosponsor a bill to celebrate the birthday of the Marine Corps by advancing the Congressional Gold Medal Resolution for the Montford Point Marines. This Resolution will forever anchor their role in the history of our nation’s great military. The bill will be scheduled for a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives in the very near future.
“As a key Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Congressional Black Caucus, I am thrilled to see this piece of legislation finally come to fruition,” said the Congresswoman. “Indeed, this extraordinarily important measure honors the first black Marines with well deserved recognition. Beyond a doubt, it is a Congressional Gold Medal that is long overdue.
The Resolution, which is strongly supported by General James F. Amos, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, said that this Resolution is of extreme importance to all Marines today. “Certainly,” the Congresswoman continued, “we must honor all of America’s war heroes selfless service and sacrifice, and in particular, those who served at Montford Point, who are about to be officially recognized as a rich legacy of our Marine Corps. They answered our nation's call at a time when our society was deeply divided along racial lines. And as such, many of their contributions went unrecognized and many times they were not given the respect and recognition they deserved as Marines, as Americans, and as patriots. To correct this past injustice, I introduced this Resolution on their behalf, and wholeheartedly believe that it is my duty as a legislator to confer the Congressional Gold Medal on the Montford Point Marines for their Service to the United States, from WWII to the Vietnam era. God bless America.”