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Butler Martin
SOUTHFIELD — The Montford Point Marines, the first African Americans to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps, will be honored during Southfield's Memorial Day program at 9 a.m. May 24 at the City Council Chambers, located at 26000 Evergreen Road.
Master Sgt. Ramon Rogers will give the keynote address about the 20,000-plus Black enlistees who trained at the segregated Camp Montford Point in Jacksonville, North Carolina, from 1942 until it was decommissioned in 1949. Butler Martin, who is 101 years old and is one of approximately 200 members of the group still alive, will be in attendance. He will receive special recognition and a plaque from the Southfield Veterans' Commission.
The event also will feature remarks from Mayor Ken Siver and Southfield Veterans' Commission Chairperson Rodney Caruthers. Internationally acclaimed jazz vocalist and songwriter Kimmie Horne will perform the “Star-Spangled Banner." Rabbi Aaron Starr, of Congregation Shaarey Zedek, will provide the invocation and Pastor Dr. Aaron L. Chapman, of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, will deliver the benediction. The ceremony will include a presentation of colors, a 21-gun salute and the playing of taps by Paul Roache of Bugles Across America, and will end with refreshments in the main lobby of City Hall.
For more information, call (248) 796-5130 or visit cityofsouthfield.com.
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