HOME OF THE ORIGINAL MONTFORD POINTERS
Portriats of Montford Point Marines at HQMC
USMC Museum
CHRONOLOGY OF
AFRICAN AMERICAN MILITARY SERVICE
From WWI - WWII
African Americans During World War II
CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL AWARD CEREMONY The following facts are provided to ensure accurate information is disseminated for interested parties regarding the Congressional Gold Medal Award Ceremony to honor the Montford Point Marines. A concerted effort was established by the Montford Point Marine Association, Inc. (MPMA) to identify all Montford Point Marines, living and deceased. A validation process to identify Marines who trained and served at Montford Point Camp, a segregated training facility from 1942-1949 has been underway since 2006. The final deadline date of 15 April 2012 was established to receive DD214/Discharge Papers for those living Montford Point Marines who desire to attend the Congressional Gold Medal Award Ceremony to be held in Washington, D.C. The deadline date was set to gather accurate information in order to notify and invite all by special invitation. The Montford Point Marines Association, Inc., will continue to collect DD214/Discharge documentation, training information, photos and artifacts for those Montford Point Marines (living and deceased) after the ceremony has concluded. A Montford Point Marine Command Operations Center has been established in the Pentagon to ensure accurate dissemination of information, coordination, and logistic for planning the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony events. Designated representatives working in the Command Center have begun the necessary preparation, coordination and logistics surrounding the Congressional Gold Medal Award Ceremony events. Each Montford Point Marine listed in the database is being called directly in order to confirm all pertinent data required for the logistical planning and execution of the CGM Award Ceremony events. We have located more than 400 living Montford Point Marines. Montford Point Project Congressional Gold Medal Command Operations Center
FACTUAL INFORMATION 1. Fact: The U.S. Marine Corps will cover the transportation and lodging expenses for all living Montford Point Marines and one guest to attend the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony in Washington, DC. In the case of deceased Montford Point Marines who were alive as of 23 November 2011 when the President signed the bill awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the Montford Point Marines, one lineal family member will be invited to come to Washington, DC to witness the Congressional Gold Medal events at Marine Corps expense. All travel and lodging will be approved and coordinated by the Marine Corps in advance, in order for the Marine Corps to cover the expenses. 2. Fact: The Congressional Gold Medal (CGM) Ceremony is scheduled to take place on 27 June 2012. There are two ceremonies scheduled. The first ceremony will take place at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, Washington, DC. This is where the Montford Point Marines will be recognized by Congress for their contributions to the Marine Corps and our nation. Attendance at this event is by invitation only and attendance will be severely restricted. The second ceremony will take place later in the evening at the Commandant of the Marine Corps’ residence in Washington, DC. This event is also by invitation only. The time will be announced on the invitation for both events. 3. Fact: The Congressional Gold Medal design has been approved, molded and ready for striking. 4. Fact: The deadline for submission of official documentation substantiating Montford Point Marine Service was April 15, 2012 and has passed. 5. Fact: Invitations to the Congressional Gold Medal Award Ceremony are limited to: All properly documented living Montford Point Marines who registered with the MPMA by 15 April 2012, plus one guest who the Montford Point Marine officially designates. Documentation of the individual’s DD214 or discharge paperwork verifying completion of training/service at the Montford Point Camp, NC between 1942 and 1949 must have been submitted to the MPMA by 15 April 2012 in order to receive an invitation to the CGM Awards Ceremony. - One lineal descendent of each Montford Point Marine killed in action during combat operations in World War II. - One lineal descendent of each properly documented and MPMA registered Montford Point Marine who was alive when the bill awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the Original Montford Point Marines was signed into law by President Barack Obama on 23 November 2011. Lineal descendants submitting Discharge Documents under this exemption must provide a copy of the death certificate and specify the name and contact information of the lineal descendent who will accept the Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of the deceased Montford Point Marine. Due to severe restrictions on the size of the venues for these events, one family member ONLY will be invited to the two Congressional Gold Medal events. The Montford Point Marine Association, Inc., and Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) will not be involved in making this decision on behalf of the Montford Point Marine or his family. 6. Fact: A lineal descendent is defined as a person who is in direct line to an ancestor, such as a child, grandchild, great-grandchild, etc. A lineal descendent is distinguished from a “collateral” descendent which would be from the line of a brother, sister, aunt, uncle or other first-degree relative. 7. Fact: MPMA membership is not required to attend the Congressional Gold Medal Award Ceremony. The wearing of the MPMA uniform attire is not required to attend the events, however, members of MPMA are highly encouraged to represent the association by wearing the official designated uniform and cover. 9. Fact: Due to security considerations we cannot and will not confirm whether the President of the United States will be in attendance at the Congressional Gold Medal Award Ceremony. 10. Fact: There will be a limit of two (2) tickets for the Congressional Gold Medal event at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). NO EXCEPTIONS. The two tickets are for the living Montford Point Marine and their one guest. For those family members receiving the medal on behalf of their deceased love one (those who died after 23 November 2011) ONLY the one family member receiving the medal on behalf of the deceased love one will receive an invitation. NO EXCEPTIONS We will have escorts available to assist invited guests, if such assistance is needed. There will be no tickets for caregivers at the CVC unless the caregiver is the invited guest. NO EXCEPTIONS. 13. Fact: If the Montford Point Marine is living but physically unable to attend the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony in Washington, DC., the next-of-kin will not be authorized to accept the Congressional Gold Medal on the Montford Point Marine’s behalf in Washington, DC. The Marine Corps or MPMA, Inc., will appropriately deliver the medal to the Montford Point Marine in a official ceremony soon after the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony held Washington, DC. 14. The Montford Point Marine Association, Inc., will be issuing Certificates of Montford Point Marine Service to the family members of deceased Montford Point Marine beginning in August 2012. One certificate will be issued to those families who provide certifying documentation to the Montford Point Marine Association, Inc. Additional certificates are available at a cost of $8.00. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS A lineal descendent is defined for this purpose as a spouse of the deceased Montford Point Marine or a person who is in direct line to an ancestor, such as a child, grandchild, great-grandchild, etc. A lineal descendent is distinguished from a “collateral” descendent which would be from the line of a brother, sister, aunt, uncle or other first-degree relative. The lineal descendant invited under this provision will NOT be permitted to bring an additional guest to the Congressional Gold Medal Award Ceremony held at Capitol Visitor Center. 2. Q: If I am the family member of a living Montford Point Marine, may I attend the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony? A- Unless you are the one family member invited to accept the Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of the deceased Montford Point Marine who was living as of 23 November 2011. There will be an attempt to host a live broadcast of the CGM Award Ceremony to accommodate individual desiring to witness this historic event. More information will be provided regarding this initiative at a later date. Further replica medals will be available for purchase from the U.S. Mint website: http://www.usmint.gov on the same day the CGM medal will be awarded. 4. Q: Who can attend the CMC Reception? 7. Q: Will HQMC pay for or reimburse family members for their transportation to and from the home of the Montford Point Marine to Washington, DC? The reimbursement rate is limited to the cost of the travel from the residence of the Montford Point Marine to Washington, DC and back or actual costs, whichever is less. Defense Travel Service (DTS) regulations under the Joint Federal Travel Regulation rules will be used to determine eligibility for reimbursement of travel and lodging expenses. Those Montford Point Marines and guests that live within a 50 mile radius of Washington, DC will not normally be reimbursed for lodging or travel expenses. However, if there are medical reasons why hotel lodging is required, a request specifying the essential need should be included with the RSVP to the invitations. The Marine Corps will pay for transportation to and from your residence to Washington, DC. In an effort to reduce the transportation footprint, regional contracts for travel will be coordinated via air and rail. Yes. One lineal family member of Montford Point Marine who was alive as of 23 November 2011 but who died prior to the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony will be included in the award ceremony to accept the bronze replica medal on behalf of their deceased Montford Point Marine. Unfortunately family members of those Montford Point Marines who died prior to November 23, 2011 will not be invited to the ceremony in Washington, DC. 10. Q: Where do I submit the death certificate of a deceased MPM? 11. Q: Who can purchase the Congressional Gold Medal bronze replica medals? 13. Q: After the Congressional Gold Medal Award Ceremony what happens then? Montford Point Marine Association, Inc. The Marine Corps and the Montford Point Marine Association have made a concerted effort in the last twelve months to widely publicize the call for documentation and the deadline for submission of paperwork. To date we have located in excess of 400 living Montford Point Marines who all will be formally invited to the ceremonies. No one will be admitted to either of the ceremonies without an invitation and/or a ticket. Considerable efforts were made with media press releases and TV coverage to spread the word of the pending award ceremony. The CGM ceremonies will likely be broadcast live so you can witness the historic event on TV. We encourage the continued submission of all documentation, artifacts, photos, and other memorabilia regarding Montford Point Marines in order to properly account for their accomplishments and contributions to the Marine Corps and to the United States. Please specify whether the Montford Point Marine is living or deceased when sending the documentation. Please also include current contact information (name, address, phone number, email etc.) for the Montford Point Marine or the next of kin in the case of deceased member. Documentation must be provided to:
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