1 00:00:03,340 --> 00:00:05,730 Hello . Hi , I'm start Major Lester 2 00:00:05,730 --> 00:00:07,841 Williams , Marine Corps Base , Hawaii 3 00:00:07,841 --> 00:00:09,730 saw me . I was raised by my grand 4 00:00:09,730 --> 00:00:11,952 parents . Have taught me dedication and 5 00:00:11,952 --> 00:00:14,063 hard work would get you a long way in 6 00:00:14,063 --> 00:00:16,380 this world . I was raised in Georgia in 7 00:00:16,380 --> 00:00:18,750 a small town called Portal . As an 8 00:00:18,750 --> 00:00:20,917 African American in the Marine Corps , 9 00:00:20,917 --> 00:00:23,083 the Marine Corps has presented me with 10 00:00:23,083 --> 00:00:25,194 a lot of advantages that I am blessed 11 00:00:25,194 --> 00:00:27,250 to receive and continue to receive . 12 00:00:27,250 --> 00:00:28,972 But I would not have had those 13 00:00:28,972 --> 00:00:30,694 opportunities if it wasn't for 14 00:00:30,694 --> 00:00:32,528 America's first African American 15 00:00:32,528 --> 00:00:34,472 Marines and those giants , part of 16 00:00:34,472 --> 00:00:36,370 mouthful , part Marines . I owe a 17 00:00:36,370 --> 00:00:38,426 mountain of gratitude to the mouth , 18 00:00:38,426 --> 00:00:40,481 part Marines for setting example and 19 00:00:40,481 --> 00:00:43,680 blazing the trail for me . I am So it 20 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:45,624 made you Lester Williams , and I'm 21 00:00:45,624 --> 00:00:47,791 proud to be an African American Marine 22 00:00:47,791 --> 00:00:48,530 Semper Fidelis .