[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 10188-10189]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  ON POINT, SHADES OF BLACK AND GREEN IN HONOR OF THE MONTFORD POINT 
      MARINES AND THE PRESENTATION OF THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 27, 2012

  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, the Montford Point Marines, were 
the first enlisted Blacks ever to serve in the United States Marine 
Corps. Today we honor these magnificent heroes with the presentation of 
Congress's highest civilian award, the Congressional Gold Medal. These 
heroes fought on two fronts: at home against discrimination and across 
the seas to defend our Nation. Beginning in 1942 they served in the 
Pacific Theater, and fought as valiantly as any Americans ever have. 
Their courageous lives have helped bring this Nation one step closer to 
equality. I ask in honor of all of these heroes living and deceased, 
this poem be placed in the Congressional Record.

                  On Point, Shades Of Black And Green

                       (by Albert Carey Caswell)

     On . . .
     On Point!
     All in those Shades of Black and Green!
     As a war can so be fought on two fronts sometimes so sadly 
           seen!
     As had all of those Montford Point Marines . . .
     All in their most magnificent shades, shades of Black and 
           Green . . .
     For only The Few, Shall Ever Be United States Marines!
     As a Nation's dark deep past so convened!
     All in what discrimination so really means!
     As throughout all of those generations,
     and all of those tears and pain upon a Nation!
     But, To Be A United States Marine!
     But, some dreams never die as so it seems!
     To walk so proudly and wear those brilliant shades of Green!
     And to go so boldly forth,
     all in your most heroic course!
     As A United States Marine!
     And even though what we so did to them was a disgrace as 
           seen,
     these fine heroes would not so lost pace, these Marines!
     As they so heroically marched off into that shadow of death 
           with high esteem!
     While, all of their most brilliant hearts so gleamed!
     OohRah!
     Because, discrimination is no match for A United States 
           Marine!
     With the world at its edge,
     as Mankind bled . . .
     To Save The World, all in those magnificent shades of black 
           and green!
     So that into a future, A King Among could so speak of his 
           Dream!
     Because, no more fiercer warrior has so been seen!
     Than, all of those Magnificent Montford Point Marines!
     As I pity those poor Japanese,
     who had to so face all of their most heroic screams!

[[Page 10189]]

     As Jesse Owens,
     had already laid the ground work in Germany it seems!
     When, the second wave came crashing in as seen!
     Bringing a setting sun in the land of the Japanese!
     As what their fine hearts for our country tis of thee would 
           mean!
     All in that Pride,
     that which so dwells deep inside of being a United States 
           Marine!
     As their courage and their faith,
     put our Nation one step closer to that place!
     Where all of our forefathers' hearts had so truly dreamed!
     For all men are created equal all in this golden theme!
     So on this day,
     look around you and pray and so say thank all of these 
           Marines!
     All in their most magnificent shades of Black and Green!
     Whose courage and undying faith,
     so made this our world a much better place all of these 
           Marines!
     Listen closely, can you but not hear the liberty bell!
     Ringing out for the freedoms that they so fought for across 
           the shores so well!
     For all these magnificent men where On Point,
     as our Lord God knows so very well!
     All in their most magnificent shades of Black and Green!
     All of these Magnificent Montford Point Marines . . .
     As time and history would tell!

                          ____________________