HR0625LRB097 14754 GRL 59776 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are pleased to congratulate the members of the 
4Montford Point Marines on the occasion of receiving the 
5Congressional Gold Medal from Congress; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, The 20,000 black Marines of Montford Point were 
7the first to be integrated into the United States Marine Corps, 
8the last all-white branch of the U.S. military, after a 1941 
9executive order from President Franklin Roosevelt; the first 
10recruits received their basic training at the segregated Camp 
11Montford Point, adjacent to Camp Lejeune, near Jacksonville, 
12North Carolina; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, The United States House of Representatives voted 
14unanimously to honor the Montford Point Marines with the 
15Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian honor, 
16in honor of their service to their country and their work in 
17breaking the military's color barrier; and

  
 
18    WHEREAS, The Montford Point Marines serve as models of hard 
19work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of 
20Illinois; therefore, be it
  
 
21    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
 
 
HR0625- 2 -LRB097 14754 GRL 59776 r

1NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
2we congratulate the members of the Montford Point Marines on 
3the occasion of receiving the Congressional Gold Medal and 
4thank them for their service to our nation; and be it further
  
 
5    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
6presented to the Montford Point Marines as a symbol of our 
7esteem and respect.