Family accepts Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of late Marine

NORTH PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The family of Samuel Nowell Jr. received the Congressional Gold Medal Sunday in honor of the late Montford Point Marine.

The ceremony took place at Oak Grove Baptist Church in North Philadelphia.

The family was presented with a certificate and gold medal.

Nowell was part of the first group of black Marines who broke the color barrier in World War II.

He died in 1999.

The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress.