LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB) -- Three Louisville men have been awarded the highest civilian award in the United States. Wednesday afternoon, Congressman John Yarmuth presented Corporal Robert Baker and Sergeant Charles Lowery, Senior with the Congressional Gold Medal. Private First Class Florian Meeks was also honored, but could not attend.
The three men are members of the Montford Point Marines, the first African-Americans to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps.
The medal is given to an individual who performs an outstanding deed or act of service for the United States. The three men served during World War II and say it's hard to describe in words what the medal means.
Lowery Sr. said, Wednesday, "Everything, everything, everything that I can think of it means to me Yes, I love it. I love it, I love everybody that's responsible for me having this."
From 1942 to 1949, approximately 20,000 African American recruits were trained and more than 13,000 served overseas during the war.
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