The Montford Point Marine Day Celebration is August 3 at 11 a.m. at VFW Post 670 to educate and honor the first Black Marines who trained at the segregated Camp Montford Point.
Tammy Williamson is the President of the National Montford Marine Association, NC Triad-Triangle Chapter 38. Kenny Joyner, is chapter 38’s team captain for Cumberland County. The two discussed the event.
Williamson said Senate Resolution 587 marked August 26, 2010 as Montford Point Marine Day. It was chosen because, on August 26, 1942, the first African American arrived at Montford Point Camp. The man was Private Howard Perry.
Chapter 38 started celebrating the day in 2017.
Williamson said they asked the Montford Point Marines in the chapter what they wanted that day to look like. She said they wanted a free event where all veterans of all races could come together. They also wanted veterans’ organizations and businesses to provide resourceful information to the veterans.
“That was important to them because of their lack of knowledge of what was available. A lot of Montford Point Marines received little to no VA Compensation,” she said. “Some were not enrolled in the VA Healthcare system.”
Each year they rotate within the different cities in their coverage area to celebrate Montford Point Marine Day.
“Rotating cities also increases our chances of locating other Montford Point Marines who have not been recognized. Nationally, to date, out of 20,000 Montford Point Marines who trained at Montford Point, only approximately 3,000 have been recognized,” she said.
What to expect?
The event is free, and food will be available to attendees.
• Guest speaker is the Secretary of the NC Department of Military and Veteran Affairs, Secretary Grier Martin
• Chapter 38 will donate a plaque to recognize Montford Point Marines who resided/reside in Cumberland County along with the Congressional Gold Medal (Replica) to the State’s Veteran Park in Fayetteville.
• Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony – Private 1st Class Walter Malloy Sr. will receive this posthumously by his daughter.
• Community and Chapter Awards.
• Veteran and Nonprofit vendors providing veteran resources.
For the plaque, they are asking any Marines within Cumberland County who went through Montford Point and want their name on the plaque, to contact Tammy Williamson at 336-684-5524 or email president@nmpma38.org.
Joyner said they will be educating the community about their history and how important Montford Point was to desegregate the Marine Corps.
He mentioned how the Black Marines didn’t have the option of training with the white Marines. The camp wasn’t even completed upon their arrival, they lived in tents and had to build their own barracks. In fact, they spent half the day training and the other half building their camp.
For those interested in donating to the event, do so at https://nmpma38.org/Donate
Passion and Determination
“The passion and determination that they had, is the same determination and passion that we must have to ensure their legacy is preserved,” said Williamson.
To be a vendor or register for the event, do so at https://nmpma38.org/event-5799858/Registration. For sponsorship or additional information please email president@nmpma38.org. Registration is not required but recommended.
Coverage
This chapter is one of five chapters located in North Carolina. They cover the following counties: Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Cumberland, Davidson, Durham, Guilford, Forsyth, Franklinton, Granville, Johnston, Nash, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rockingham, Surry and Wake.

(Top Photo: Members of the Marine Corps League attend the funeral of the oldest living Montford Point Marine Private 1st Class Cosmas D. Eaglin, Sr on August 15, 2023. Pictured are members of the Marine Corps League, Shawn Knisley Detachment #983 and National Montford Point Marines, NC Triad-Triangle Chapter 38 members and Senior Region Vice-President of the National Montford Point Marine Association. Bottom Photo: Fayetteville Team Captain, Mr. Kenny A. Joyner presents a gift card and information about Montford Point Marines with Ms. Leanna Wing of Fayetteville during Thanksgiving, 2023. Photos courtesy of the Montford Marine Association, NC Triad-Triangle Chapter 38.)