Title
Recognizing April 2, 2015 as Cecil B. Moore Day in the City of Philadelphia as we celebrate the 100th birthday of Cecil B. Moore.
Body
WHEREAS, Cecil B. Moore was born in Dry Fork Hollow, West Virginia to a prominent physician and school teacher. He was a fourth generation Black professional; and
WHEREAS, Cecil B. Moore attended Bluefield State College, West Virginia College and in 1953 graduated from Temple University College; and
WHEREAS, On April 6, 1946, he married Theresa Lee, a high school biology teacher and daughter of a prominent dentist. They had three daughters; and
WHEREAS, Cecil B. Moore was employed as an Atlantic Life Insurance agent in Georgia, which honed his skills for judicial settlements in later years. In the 1950's, in Philadelphia, he was a liquor salesman, who formed friendships with those who later became his supporters. He demonstrated against additional bars in the neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, With Reverend Leon Sullivan he founded the "Committee Against Juvenile Delinquency and It's Causes,"; and
WHEREAS, Cecil B. Moore joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942, training at Montford Point, the "Negro Boot Camp," at segregated Camp Lejuene, North Carolina. He served as 1st Sergeant of the 19th Depot, the first Black Marines to engage in actual combat during World War II, and also fought for the rights and justice for his fellow soldiers, by alerting the Black press of their plight; and
WHEREAS, Cecil B. Moore served loyally for 9 years, earning the highest rank an African American could attain, Sergeant Major. In 1965, as a founding member, the Montford Point Marine Association was formed. These brave men were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their services to our country in 2011. This effort was spearheaded by Congresswoman Corrine Brown of Florida; and
WHEREAS, Attorney Cecil B. Moore said, "I was determined that what rights I didn't have I was going to take, using every weapon in the arsena...
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