Retired Gunnery Sgt. Roosevelt Farrow is one of the original Montford Point Marines

Breaking Missing 10-year-old girl was victim of 'brutal murder,' DA says Art of Aging Retired Gunnery Sgt. Roosevelt Farrow is one of the original Montford Point Marines By Tamala Edwards , Steph Walton Thursday, November 5, 2026 6:04PM The 12th annual Philadelphia Veterans Parade is taking place on Sunday, November 8, and we meet the grand marshal Roosevelt Farrow. WPVI BERLIN, N.J. (WPVI) -- Roosevelt Farrow, 97, retired as a gunnery sergeant from the U.S. Marine Corps decades ago, but his service is not forgotten. "I graduated from high school that night and that next day I joined the Marine Corps," says Farrow. "I wanted to become a Marine because of my youngest son, Darnell, he wanted to know why there were no Black Marines." In 1947, Farrow was sent to train in Jacksonville, North Carolina. "He went through a place called Montford Point," says Willis H. Gray, Jr., a National Veterans Affairs Officer. "Gunny Farrow was one of the original Montford Point Marines." Gray says this was a new unit comprised of all Black Marines. "It was a segregated camp," he says. "I served 21 years in the Marine Corps," says Farrow. Over the last ten years, Gray has witnessed Farrow receive many accolades, including the Hall of Fame Award, which is a national award. The two met at the National Montford Point Marine Association, Inc. Chapter 1 in Philadelphia, where Gray is now president. "The mission is to preserve the legacy of those 20,000 original Montford Point Marines," says Gray. "Because of his effort and his sacrifice, to go through what he went through back in the '40s to become a Marine, enabled me to wear the uniform." Farrow's family says they didn't know much about his service until 2017, when he received the Congressional Award Gold Medal. "They had to build their own barracks, which is unfathomable," says Chelsey Williams, Farrow's granddaughter. Farrow's daughter, Rosalind Chivis-Congo, reads what is inscribed on the back of his Congressional Award Gold Medal. Missing 10-year-old girl Jalayshia Allford was victim of 'brutal murder,' Philadelphia DA says 41 minutes ago Retired Bucks County teacher struck, killed by DART bus in library parking lot Russell Brand has been convicted of rape and sexual assault "For outstanding perseverance and courage, inspired social change in the Marine Corps," she says, before adding, "He is just a wonderful human being." Farrow says he married the woman of his dreams, Anna Mae, while in the corps. Farrow's grandson-in-law, Jamie Williams, calls Farrow "very humble" even though he did great things. "He makes us proud," he says. "He's walking and talking Black history for us," says his wife, Chelsey Williams. Farrow says wearing the uniform did bring change. "I felt like a real person," says Farrow. "And it did something to me, for me. I had a purpose. I finally had a purpose in life as a Marine." And this year, you can watch Roosevelt Farrow serve as grand marshal of the Philadelphia Veterans Parade right here on 6abc. Parade coverage starts Sunday, November 8 at 12:30pm, after Action News at noon. For more information: National Montford Point Marine Association, Inc. To see more on Ret. Gunnery Sgt. Roosevelt Farrow's service and the Montford Point Marines - El Dorado Films - Veteran Documentary Corps Report a correction or typo Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved. Related Topics SOCIETY PHILADELPHIA BERLIN TOWNSHIP NEW JERSEY ART OF AGING VETERANS PARADE VETERANS DAY Mother, daughter duo work to save bats at conservation & rehab center PCA's Senior Strut promotes healthy aging and community among seniors Centro Hispano CASA Senior Center supporting older adults in Reading Jamey Reilly started Jamey's House of Music out in West Philadelphia Watch Live ON NOW Missing 10-year-old girl was victim of 'brutal murder,' DA says 41 minutes ago Retired teacher struck, killed by DART bus in library parking lot Russell Brand has been convicted of rape and sexual assault Winning ticket drawn in New Jersey for $847M Powerball jackpot 11 minutes ago AccuWeather: Showers today, some heavier rain tomorrow 2 hours ago Philadelphia once again poorest big city in the US, census data shows Woman found shot in the head inside home in Wissinoming 6 dead, several injured in Brooklyn house fire