JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - Family members, Marines and more gathered Friday to celebrate and honor three distinguished Marines who served our country while facing challenges of their own.

Three Montford Point Marines were honored at the Lejeune Memorial Gardens.

Their loved ones were given a replica Congressional Gold Medal for the 16th Montford Point Marine Day ceremony.

The National Montford Point Marine Association says the ceremony is in remembrance of the first African Americans who enlisted in the Marine Corps during World War II.

Montford Point, now known as Camp Johnson, was a segregated training camp for African Americans during the 1940s.

For Corporal Charles Gray’s family, this morning was an honor.

His granddaughter Jennifer Pugh says, “Proud of him and his legacy and wh

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