HR0625 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0625 LRB097 14754 GRL 59776 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the members of the Montford Point Marines on the occasion of receiving the Congressional Gold Medal from Congress; and

WHEREAS, The 20,000 black Marines of Montford Point were the first to be integrated into the United States Marine Corps, the last all-white branch of the U.S. military, after a 1941 executive order from President Franklin Roosevelt; the first recruits received their basic training at the segregated Camp Montford Point, adjacent to Camp Lejeune, near Jacksonville, North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, The United States House of Representatives voted unanimously to honor the Montford Point Marines with the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian honor, in honor of their service to their country and their work in breaking the military's color barrier; and

WHEREAS, The Montford Point Marines serve as models of hard work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the members of the Montford Point Marines on the occasion of receiving the Congressional Gold Medal and thank them for their service to our nation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Montford Point Marines as a symbol of our esteem and respect.