Montford Point Marines visit Charlotte elementary school

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Students at Tuckaseegee Elementary School got a special lesson in Black history on Friday.

Members of the Montford Point Marines visited the west Charlotte campus. They are the first African-American Marine Corps unit in North Carolina. They trained at Montford Point Camp in North Carolina from 1942 to 1949. They talked to students about what it was like facing segregation and discrimination while being trailblazers. They served during World War II and paved the way for the full integration of the U.S. military.

Craig Little of the Montford Point Marine Association says, “I like to bring it to schools because Black history is American history, because these individuals were Americans and they fought for our country when it was a time when our country really didn’t want them to be part of the United States Marine Corps.

The Montford Point Marines’ contributions were officially recognized in 2011 when they were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their service and sacrifice.