Marine Corps Installations East-Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune hosted the Montford Point Marine Day Ceremony at the Montford Point Marines Memorial in the Lejeune Memorial Gardens, August 22, 2019. Dr. Roosevelt Baxter Jr., senior pastor at Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church served as the keynote speaker. Dr. Baxter is a 25 year veteran who retired as a Master Gunnery Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps.
Video by Sanders Hall
Transcript
[Houston] Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of Sergeant Major Johnny Young retired… Johnny B. Young, Jr. retired, President Chapter 10 Montford Point Marine Association Incorporated and auxiliary, welcome to this morning’s annual celebration of Montford Point Marines. I am CWO5 retired Houston T. Chinard, and I will be your narrator for today’s ceremony. 10 years ago, the 111th Congress penned Senate Resolution number 587, designating August 26th as Montford Point Marines Day. Thus began our official annual weekend celebration of the Montford Point Marines. We are pleased that you have joined us to celebrate this memorable occasion. Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the invocation by auxiliary chaplain, Ms. Linda McMichael, and remain standing for the presentation of colors followed by the playing of our National Anthem.
[Linda] Good morning, everyone. Bow our head in prayer, please. Oh, Heavenly Father, we give You thanks. We thank You, God, for another day. God we thank You for this day because this day was not promised, but God, You saw fit that You touched Your angels that touched us and woke us with their finger of love on due time. And, Heavenly Father, I am so grateful for that. Oh, Heavenly Father, I thank You for those little things that we forget to say thank You each and every day. Father, I thank You for when I woke up this morning, I was still in my right mind. Father, I thank You, as I look around, I can see Your grace and Your mercy. Father, I thank you, for each and every day You keep right on blessing us each over and over again. I thank You for the sacrifice that You made years ago on that cross, that You died for our sins. I thank You, God, for each and every day that You bless us to see. God, I thank you for the healing that you provided on this week. Father, I thank You for when that man said, “No,” You always say, “Yes.” Father, I thank You for years ago as the original Montford Pointer, as they stood the test of time, as they backs was against the wall, sometimes they mighta felt like they was Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego. God, felt like they mighta beens tossed in the fiery furnace, but God, You been who You are. You saw fit that you kept on blessin’ them. You kept on givin’ them the strength to endure each and every day. I thank You, God, for what You are doin’ in this world. I thank You, God, for each and every one that made it a point of showin’ up today. I thank You, God, for how You gonna move throughout the rest of this week. I thank You, God, for just bein’ a provider. I thank You, God, for just bein’ a protector. And, Father, as the mans and women continue to protect this world, as they stand faithful, God, to their call that they have on their life, I ask that You just bless it in a mighty way. Touch them, Father, from the top of their head to the sole of their feet. As they stand faithful, God, help them to say, “When the trouble in my way, they don’t have to trial “all the time, they can smile.” Help them to say, God, “Wave in the water, “but I’m bound to cross.” Just like they had to cross that Jordan River. Father, thank You, thank You, for Your precious Son, Jesus. Thank You, God, for allowing us to say, Father, help us to keep on keepin’ on. Father, I thank You for when we feel like our back is against the wall, we have someone that we can call. We can always call on the name of Jesus. We can say, “Jesus, “for it’s in the name of the Father, “Jesus, in the name of the Son, “Jesus, in the name of the Holy Spirit.” As I lift this day up to You, God, I lay it at Your feet. I know whatever we stand in need of, God, I call it blessed, ’cause it’s in Your precious Son, Jesus’ name, that we have faith and He’s already done. Amen.
[Houston] March on the colors. (command to troops) (“You’re a Grand Old Flag”) (command to troops) (“The Star-Spangled Banner”) (command to troops) Hoist the colors. (marching) Ladies and gentlemen. Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. (command to troops) Please allow me to introduce our official party. We ask that you hold your applause until all have been introduced. Major General Julian D. Alford, Commanding General Marine Corps Installations East, Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune. Sergeant Major retired Johnny B. Young, Jr. President Chapter 10 Montford Point Marine Association Incorporated. Honorable Sammy Phillips, mayor, City of Jacksonville. And Reverend Doctor Roosevelt Baxter, Jr., Master Gunnery Sergeant retired, and our keynote speaker for the ceremony. Ladies and gentlemen, a round of applause for our official party. (applause) Today’s ceremony honors the outstanding achievement of the approximately 20,000 Marines who serve their country honorably and passed through the hallowed grounds of Montford Point Camp, now Camp Johnson. We are honored to have some of those heroes present with us today, seated in the center tent. Ladies and gentlemen, a round of applause for our Marines of Montford Point. (applause) (cheering) Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, we will now have remarks from Mayor Phillips.
(Mayor Phillips) Good morning, everyone. On behalf of the City of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville City Council and a grateful community, I welcome the Montford Point Marines, their families and descendants. I also welcome their friends and supporter to this ceremony. For more than a year now, I have been proud of our one city, my city, our city campaign for the City of Jacksonville. It embodies the spirit that we express today. None of us can correct the wrongs of yesterday cast upon the Montford Pointers and others. Montford Pointers suffered a discrimination and were made to feel unwelcome in our community as well as our society. We acknowledge that. And Jacksonville has helped support this wonderful memorial to tell the story of these Montford Point Marines, these brave Americans. I pledge to continue to support the efforts of the Montfort Point Marine Association, to find those who served but who have not yet been recognized for their service with a Congressional Gold Medal. As these many stars, gold stars, to my left indicate, there are many who served without recognition. We want the families of those who did serve to have this legacy recognized. Your city is proud of the service of the Montford Pointers. Jacksonville and the Montford Point Marines are different today. Montford Pointers have grown old. And some have passed. Jacksonville has grown and adapted. Today, Jacksonville celebrates our legacy as a caring community with the additional moniker of receive a hero’s welcome. Today, we give that hero’s welcome to the Montford Pointers, their families and friends. So, on behalf of the City of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville City Council, and our residents, I say, “thank you.” I also say, “Welcome home, and I bring you “our community’s thanks for your service to this country.” Thank you. (applause)
[Houston] Thank you, Mayor Phillips. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome President Young as he comes forward.
[Pres. Young] Good morning.
[Audience] Good morning.
[Pres. Young] What a beautiful day. Usually it rains during this time of year. But God has smiled on us today. General Alford, Mayor Phillips, Sheriff Miller, commanding officers, senior enlisted advisors, ladies and gentlemen, I am so elated that you took time out from your day to help us celebrate the Montford Point Marine Day. I cannot overstate the love shown by this community in their support of the Montford Point legacy. This day is possible because of many kindhearted people such as yourselves, and for that, Chapter 10 and our auxiliary thank you. I am honored to introduce our keynote speaker. He is no stranger to this community. He lives in Jacksonville. He is a man of God and the pastor of Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church Incorporated, Wilmington, North Carolina. And under his leadership, the church has implemented numerous ministries. He has preached the Gospel for over 30 years throughout the United States and abroad. He is a family man that has been blessed with four children and five grandchildren. He had been married to the former Devanna C. McKnight for 39 years, whom he affectionately called Pearl. He served the United States Marine Corps for 25 years and retired as a master gunnery sergeant. He is a life member of Montford Point Marine Association Incorporated. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming the Reverend Doctor Pastor Master Gunnery Sergeant retired Roosevelt Baxter. (applause)
[Baxter] Grace and peace be unto you. I am humbled and honored to have been asked to share on what I consider to be a glorious occasion. Allow me to take a moment to just express my humble gratitude to all those persons responsible for allowing me to come and to stand and speak a word on behalf of such honored guests. To all the distinguished leadership that has gathered today and all those families and friends, again, I bid you peace. I must confess, at the outset, that I’m kinda caught between a rock and a hard place. Because, when I was asked to say a few words on behalf of such distinguished gentlemen, I was told that I had 10 minutes. I was caught there because how does one say in 10 minutes what needs to be said about such distinguished guests? How does one wrap up in such a short period of time all the accomplishments that cover the impact that these men have made in 15 minutes? How does one say into a few words that which brings such proper honor to such honored men as Montford Pointers? I told you 10 minutes, 15 minutes, I’m struggling to find out where do I begin, what do I leave out, where do you start? There is so much that could be said and should be said that 15 minutes is kind of short. And then, on top of that, to tell a preacher to take 10 to 15 minutes… (laughs) (audience laughs) So, where do I begin? What do I say, the appropriate words, for such distinguished gentlemen and men and men that I consider to be some of the greatest men on the planet? Should I start with the fact that they came from all parts of this country? They came from north, south, east, and west. And that they came from various and diverse backgrounds. They came from various social and economic situations. But, yet, the fact of it still remains that they came. They came not really knowin’ what they were coming to. They came, some were just enamored with the fact that they wanted to be a part of what was then known as the reputation of the greatest fighting force on the planet. They wanted to be Marines. Some came for adventure. Some came to escape poverty. Some came just because they wanted to get away from where they were seeking something better. But, yet, they came. Some came to confront discrimination. Some came just because they loved the distinct look of the dress blue uniform. But, yet, they came. They came to fight for the right to fight for a country that, at the time, did not even want them. But, yet, they came. And during 1942, August of that year, they began to show up. And it wasn’t until 20,000 of them later had arrived that they were still here. They came and trained at this historic and hallowed ground known as the Montford Point, now known as Camp Johnson. They came, I tell you, they came to demonstrate that the African American was just as proud and just as worthy of the Eagle Globe and Anchor as anyone else. They came. They arrived and found not what you see today. They arrived and drove through this gate of this campus, looking at what really was a snake-infested swamp, but yet, they came. They came having to deal with what was now unthinkable, but yet, they came. They came and distinguished themselves because they understood that it takes more than just talk to be a Marine. They came to let it be known that no matter what others may thought, we’ve got the mettle to still stand strong. They came because they loved the country that did not even recognize who they were. But yet, once they arrived, and they found living conditions that would be unspeakable of today, but yet, while going through training, they still loved this place enough that training and building their own place of living, they came. And upon completion of the training, notice they were not even allowed to walk out of this gate on the streets of this city by themselves. They had to be accompanied by, then, a white Marine. But yet, they came. Are you hearin’ what I’m sayin’? They did not come, not only did they come, but they stayed. They stayed, they stayed, and they earned the right to be called Marines. And so, the Montford Pointers, they served this country with honor. They served this country with distinction, and they even distinguished themselves in combat environments. They stayed and the more I’ve thought about it, the more I thought about the great men among shoulders, upon which I stand, the shoulders of which I stand. There was a word that comes to my mind that echoes down through my heart, and it is the word of visionary. These men were visionary. These men had a vision that they wanted to serve this great nation. They had a vision that we will endure whatever comes, we will endure, we will sacrifice, but we are committed to be a part of this great nation. And being visionary is not always easy. It takes hunger, tenacity. It takes commitment. It invites you to trouble. Being a visionary invites trouble into your life. You have to face troubled times. You have to face things, but yet, in the midst of the trouble it did not deter their vision. Vision will provide you with a reason to go on. Vision will give you a path on which to follow and a target on which to hit. I applaud these men for serving as visionaries and pursuing their dream. I had 10 minutes. I’m about done, okay. As I get to the end of this, I wanted you to understand one thing clearly. I’m gonna get a little personal now. As I close my little 10 minute session here, I think about them not only as visionaries, but I also think about a passage of Scripture that I find in Psalm 71. It is within that Psalm. It partly reads that “When I’m old and gray, “do not forsake me ’til I declare your Power “to the next generation.” And as I thought about that, it is the prayer, really, of an old man. It is the prayer of a man who has seen many things, some good, some bad. But yet, he comes to a certain conclusion as his light draws near. He expresses or reflects how has enjoyed his past experiences. He celebrates the fact of where he is at that present moment. But his dying declaration is he wanted to be able to say when he is old and gray that he has impacted the next generation for the good. I stand here today amongst these others together and say to these Montford Pointers, you hear me, you have left an indelible mark not only on this community but this country. You’ve left a mark that cannot be erased. You’ve left a mark that cannot be hid away with the cloak of a book, with the cloak of just a smile. But you’ve left the mark that, whether folk like it or not, you are here to stay. Montford Pointers forever. (applause) But not only that, but you’ve left a legacy that challenges those who come behind you. It challenges us, challenges the next generation that they are to now take up the mantle, to be committed, to be motivated to take on the challenge that we are gonna live up to the standard that you set. To live up to the creed that now makes us unique and distinctive throughout the world. And, so, as I stand on your shoulders, as a retired 25 year veteran of the Marines, I stand here to declare to you today proudly, I thank you for lettin’ me stand. I thank you for opening a door. I thank you for giving me what I now have as a career. I thank you, Montford Pointers, and I want you to consider this. Even though you may be old and gray, some may look at you and see that your days are long past over, I declare unto you, your voice still rings. I declare unto you, never let be silent what you now know in your heart. And you have made a difference and we are the better for it. So, I declare unto you this day, that never be ashamed of who you are. Never be ashamed of the difference you make. And I thank you today that you came to make a difference and you ended up making history. God bless you. Semper fi. (applause)
[Houston] Thank you, Reverend Baxter, for those uplifting words. At this time, President Young will present Reverend Baxter with a memento.
Reverend Baxter,
Yes, Sir.
It is indeed an honor to have you as our honorary guest speaker. Those words ring throughout. Some individuals in the audience have learned something today. And for that, we thank you along with the original Montford Pointers. For bein’ our guest speaker, we have a small memento to pass on to you that you may place on your mantle along with all the other accolades that you have, if your wife will let you.
[Baxter] (laughs) That is so true.
[Pres. Young] It says, “Presented to Reverend Doctor Roosevelt Baxter, guest speaker, Montford Point Marine Association Day, 22 August, 2019, Montford Point Association Incorporated, Camp Lejeune chapter and auxiliary.
Thank you, sir. This will definitely have a place of honor. (applause)
[Pres. Young] And I also have something personally from me. United States Marine Corps, Master Gunnery Sergeant, retired.
[Baxter] God bless you, sir. Wonderful, awesome, I love it. (Pres. Young laughs) (applause)
[Houston] Ladies and gentlemen, Reverend Baxter and President Young will now place a wreath at the wall of stars in honor of those brave men who trained in Montford Point Camp and fought for the right to fight. (command to troops) Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the playing of “Taps.” (command to troops) (“Taps”) (command to troops) Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. (command to troops)
[ Pres. Young] Before concluding today’s ceremony, I would like to acknowledge the following individuals. Commanding Officer Camp Johnson, for your support throughout the years. Second Marine Air Wing Quartet. Second Supply Battalion Marines and Color Guard. And the Montford Point Marine Day committee and auxiliary. We could not have done this without the support of the community once again. I’d also like to recognize Sheriff Hans Miller, and I know by calling names, I’m gonna get myself in trouble, so I’m gonna leave it alone. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming and have a wonderful day. (applause)
[Houston] (laughs) Not yet. Ladies and gentlemen, we hope that you will take a few minutes to view this beautiful memorial. The Marine sculpture so vividly depicted in front of you which states, “They arrived, they served, they lived,” will always remind us of the hardship Montford Point Marines endured. Thank you, Montford Point Marines, for all you have done for our country and our Corps. We pledge to preserve your legacy for generations to come. Thank you. (applause) Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the playing of “Anchors Aweigh” and “Marines’ Hymn.” (command to troops) (“Anchors Aweigh”) (“Marines’ Hymn”) (command to troops) Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. The Montford Point Marine Association requests that you join us for refreshments at the Montford Point Marine Building, 148 Brynn Marr Road, following the ceremony. We also want to invite you to take part in the remaining events celebrating Montford Point Marines this weekend. We have a golf tournament tomorrow at Paradise Point Golf Club, tee time 0800. On Saturday, August 24th, please join us at the Montford Point Marine Building for our Memorial Cherry Motorcycle Ride. This concludes today’s ceremony. Thank you again for your attendance, and have a great day. (applause)