Harold Broussard Sr., far right, holds a replica of the Montford Point Marine Gold Medal presented to him Tuesday by the United States Marine Reserve Unit based in Lafayette. Broussard was a member of one of the first groups of Marines after President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered integration of the Marines in 1942. Also pictured are Marines from the Lafayette reserve unit and Mayor Raymond Harris.
Broussard was among one of the first groups of United States Marines that served after President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 8802 in 1942 mandating integration of the U.S. Marines.
A resolution adopted by the Senate in 2010 gave special honor to the Montford Point Marines and a special ceremony to present the Gold Medal was held in Washington D.C. in July of this year.
While Broussard was not able to participate in the official activities, his family insisted that he receive his honors and arranged for Tuesday’s presentation.
After an honorable discharge in 1946 Broussard returned to Franklin where he married Edwina Verdun Broussard. Of their six children, two are veterans: Harold S. Broussard Jr., a Vietnam Navy Veteran, and Michael Broussard, a U.S. Army peacetime Veteran.
Broussard remained active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion Joseph Brown Post 532 and the Marine Corps League.
Family members, friends and public officials turned out to commemorate the occasion Tuesday as Broussard was honored for his service.
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