Lt. Col. Michael F. Arnone (left), Inspector-Instructor 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, presents the Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. James J. Neal and Therian Neal Brown, the son and goddaughter of Montford Point Marine James Neal, at Harper University Hospital in Detroit, Mich. Oct. 23, 2015. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress for distinguished achievement. The President of the United States, President Barack Obama, signed into law the legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Montford Point Marines on Nov. 23, 2011. This award recognizes Montford Point Marines' contributions to the Marine Corps and the United States of America from 1942 to 1949, when approximately 20,000 African American recruits were trained at a segregated base called Camp Montford Point.