Congressman Andre Carson presents Averitte Corley with his Congressional Gold Medal (WIBC.com photo: Mike Corbin)

A special July 4th in Lawrence today. To kickoff the 4th of July parade, Indiana Congressman Andre Carson presented Averitte Corley with a Congressional Gold Medal.

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It's one of the nation's highest civilian honors. Lawrence native Corley is one of the Montford Point Marines, the first African Americans to serve in the U.S. marines. They represent some 19,000 black men trained at segregated Montford Point, North Carolina before heading into battle in World War II. It's believed that about 420 Montford Point marines are still living.

Corley says he's proud of the honor and only wishes more of his comrades were still alive to share in it. 400 others received gold medals at a ceremony in Washington D.C. last week.