National Montford Point Marine Association Atlanta Chapter #5

This Memorial Day, Atlanta Chapter 5 honors the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our Nation.

We remember the fallen whose courage and selflessness secured the freedoms we enjoy today. Their legacy lives on through our continued commitment to service, remembrance, and preserving the stories of those who paved the way.

Today, we especially honor the sacrifice of the Montford Point Marines and all who answered the call when our Nation needed them most.

Their courage. Their sacrifice. Our freedom.

We will never forget.

Following the overwhelming success of the 60th National Montford Point Marine Association Convention in Atlanta, Atlanta Chapter 5 is proud to present another unforgettable evening honoring the legacy of the Montford Point Marines.

Join us for the Montford Point Marines Day Gala on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at the Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway for an evening of history, inspiration, and celebration as we continue preserving the story of the first African Americans to serve in the United States Marine Corps.

We are honored to welcome Aaron Swain, President and Chairman of the Board for 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc., as our keynote speaker. His leadership and commitment to mentorship and community empowerment make him the perfect voice for this special occasion.

If you experienced the energy and impact of the 60th Convention, then you already know this is an event you do not want to miss. If you missed it, here is your opportunity to be part of something powerful.

Early Bird Tickets are available now for only $99 through July 17. Secure your seat today, bring your family and friends, and help us continue ensuring that the world knows about the Montford Point Marines.
Registration: atl-mpma.org/event-6534239

The tournament is about to begin

Montford Point Marines Youth Leadership Camp coming to Cobb County Georgia

The first 10 students register FREE thanks to our lead sponsor, VyStar Credit Union.

Registration is now OPEN for the Montford Point Marines Youth Leadership Camp starting June 15–19, 2026, Red Bud Blossom Family Justice Center in Marietta from 8 AM – 4 PM daily (lunch provided)

This one-week camp is designed for 4th and 5th grade students (ages 9–11) and focuses on building leadership, teamwork, and confidence rooted in the legacy of the Montford Point Marines.

Throughout the week, students will participate in leadership and team-building activities, financial literacy and etiquette sessions, health and fitness engagement, guest speakers from real professions, field trips to local organizations, and a final team-based project

Only 25 total seats available – first come, first serve
Register here: atl-mpma.org/camp

If you’re in Cobb County, please share this with parents, teachers, churches, and families who would benefit. This is a real opportunity to invest in our youth.

The carts are lined up. The course is ready. Are you?

We’re under 2 weeks out from the Montford Point Marine Golf Classic at Eagle's Landing Country Club, and final spots are going now.

Cash prizes for top teams | Hole-in-One = NEW Toyota Tacoma |
Golf gear, $500 Callaway shopping spree, and a resort getaway

NEW THIS YEAR: Golf Clinic (12–2 PM) which includes a lunch buffet

This is our largest fundraiser supporting scholarships, youth programs, and preserving the legacy of the Montford Point Marines.

Don’t miss out. Secure your spot today:
https://www.atl-mpma.org/event-6391455

Bigger. Better. One Shot at a New Toyota Tacoma.
The Montford Point Marine Golf Classic is back on May 4 and this year, we’ve raised the bar.

Compete for bragging rights, Hole-in-One = drive home a NEW Toyota Tacoma. Also, win prizes including golf tech, a $500 Callaway shopping spree, and a luxury golf resort getaway

NEW THIS YEAR: Golf Clinic (12–2 PM)
Perfect for beginners or anyone looking to improve. Includes professional instruction + lunch buffet

This is our largest fundraiser supporting scholarships, youth programs, and preserving the legacy of the Montford Point Marines.

Teams are forming now. Don’t wait.

Register today: atl-mpma.org/event-6391455

Bring a team. Bring a friend. Be part of something that continues to get bigger and better.

The Torch Has Been Passed.
The response to our Montford Point Marines history series has been powerful.

Many of you shared personal stories about fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and mentors who trained at Montford Point. Others told us about meeting these trailblazers and how they left a lasting impression. Your stories matter. They remind us that this history is not distant. It lives in families and communities across this country.

If you’ve connected with this content and want to go deeper, there is an organization dedicated to preserving this legacy.

The National Montford Point Marine Association, Inc. is the source for “All Things Montford Point Marines.”

Founded in 1965 by the Montford Point Marines themselves to make sure their legacy would never be erased. Today, with 29 active chapters nationwide and nearly 2,000 members, the mission continues under the leadership of National President Ronald C. Johnson.

You can help by becoming a member, volunteering at community events, and most importantly, share this information that may help us discover more Montford Point Marines.

Visit our website and be part of preserving a legacy that changed the Marine Corps and America forever. atl-mpma.org and montfordpointers.com

From Unwelcome to Unforgettable

In 1942, when the first Black Marines arrived at Montford Point Camp, they were not welcomed in Jacksonville. Segregation was law. Restaurants, buses, and storefronts reminded them daily that they were not accepted.

They trained anyway. They served anyway. They fought anyway.

Today, just outside the gates of what is now Camp Johnson, stands the Montford Point Marine Memorial in Lejeune Memorial Gardens.

The city that once turned them away now hosts one of its most visited and powerful historical landmarks. Families, Marines, students, and visitors from across the nation walk those grounds to learn about the nearly 20,000 African American men who changed the Marine Corps and American history.

The bronze Marine statue. The Wall of 20,000 stars. The inscription that tells their story. The irony is powerful. The men who were once unwelcome are now immortalized.

The Legends of Montford Point Camp are preserved forever.

Drop a comment if you have visited the memorial.

From First Black Marine to First Black Mayor

In 1945, 18-year-old David Dinkins didn’t wait to be drafted. He enlisted in the Marine Corps because if he was going to war, he wanted the best training possible. For African Americans, that training happened at Montford Point Camp.

Though World War II ended while he was still in boot camp, the lessons he learned there discipline, perseverance, and resilience never left him.

After leaving the Corps, Dinkins graduated from Howard University and earned a law degree from Brooklyn Law School. He rose steadily in New York City politics, becoming the first African American president of the NYC Board of Elections, then Manhattan Borough President.

In 1989, he made history as the first Black Mayor of New York City. David Dinkins carried Montford Point with him from the parade deck to City Hall.

Montford Point Camp didn’t just make Marines. It produced leaders who changed America.