William J. Brashear (left), a Montford Point Marine, receives the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony held at Mount Era Baptist Church in Morgan City, La., Nov. 15, 2014. The Congressional Gold Medal is the nation’s highest civilian honor and is awarded by Congress for distinguished achievement. On Nov. 23, 2011, President Barrack Obama signed into legislation a law that awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to all Montford Point Marines who were the first African-Americans allowed to enlist in the Marine Corps.