Maple Resolve

Montford Point Marines Sgt. Riley A. McCray and Cpl. Lynn L. Williams are presented with the Congressional Gold Medal by Capt. Caitlin T. Ferrarell at a ceremony here Sept. 21. Ferrarell is the Inspector-Instructor for Detachment 2, Beach and Terminal Operations Company A, 4th Landing Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, in Concord, Calif. The pair earned the award by presidential order for being a few of the 22,000 African-American Marines to serve in the Corps between 1942 and 1949 during a time of common racism and segregation. Marine Reserve units from 22 states around the nation have been tasked to deliver 78 medals to Montford Point Marines who weren’t in attendance at the July ceremony in Washington, D.C.