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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to recognize the Chicago Montford Point
4Marines Association; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The Montford Point Marines Association is a
6nonprofit military veteran's organization founded to
7memorialize the first African Americans to serve in the United
8States Marine Corps, who were restricted to a segregated boot
9camp in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and served from 1942 until
101949; and
 
11    WHEREAS, The National Montford Point Marines Association
12is dedicated to serving veterans and the community, and they
13have 36 chapters throughout the United States, along with
14several chapters of the Ladies Auxiliary; the association is
15comprised solely of veterans and volunteers, and its mission is
16to preserve the legacy and perpetuate the memory, spirit, and
17comradeship of the original members; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The Chicago Montford Point Marine Association was
19established after a reunion of the Montford Point veterans in
20August 1965; the Chicago chapter has 35 members, including four
21of the men who served in the first group of black Marines,
22known as the "Original 400"; in Chicago, the group's chapter

 

 

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1operates out of a building in Englewood, which has served as a
2community meeting space, resource center, and safe haven for
3veterans for more than 50 years; and
 
4    WHEREAS, The Chicago Montford Point Marine Association
5supports and promotes activities for the social betterment and
6enlightenment of the community, and, over the years, the
7group's scholarship program has given $40,000 to students;
8their Christmas Basket program has donated $50,000 to shut-in
9veterans and needy families, and a back-to-school program has
10provided over 1,000 book bags to children; therefore, be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
12HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
13we recognize the past sacrifices of the Chicago Montford Point
14Marines Association members, commend the Chicago Montford
15Point Marines Association for their continued contributions to
16their community, and encourage the citizens of Illinois to
17support the organization as it struggles to continue to fulfill
18its mission; and be it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20presented to the Chicago Montford Point Marines Association as
21an expression of our esteem and respect.