Personnel take time to remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dillon White
  • 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  More than 40 people attended a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. remembrance ceremony at the base chapel sanctuary Jan. 18. 

The ceremony included a slide show presentation highlighting Dr. King and a speech given by guest speaker Staff Sgt. Alan Quevy, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron dorm manager. 

The last 10 minutes of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech was also played to show a high mark of his career, said Staff Sgt. Aharon Goins, 341st Logistic Readiness Squadron material management craftsman and African American History Association president. 

"It was one of the most famous speeches of the 20th century," Sergeant Goins said. "It gave a major boost to the civil rights movement." 

The importance of tolerance, compassion and community was a lesson Master Sgt. Steven Gethers, 341st Medical Operations Squadron public health NCOIC, gained from the ceremony, he said. Doing away with complacency, ignorance and hatred makes for a better community. 

"People should get out and make things happen," Sergeant Gethers said. "Join a club. Also, when the base is holding an event, we need to support it." We are a community and we need to work together as a community." 

Sharing strengths with other people was an important point, Sergeant Goins said. 

"Sergeant Quevy talked about helping other people. If one person has a weakness and someone helps them out, everyone benefits," he said. 

Doing more in the community, like joining the Boys and Girls Club or contributing to another cause are both good ways to keep Dr. King's dreams alive, Sergeant Goins said. 

Talking to junior personnel and getting to know them better is also important, he said. 

"Dr. King went through a lot of things people don't go through now," Sergeant Goins said. "People have benefited from that struggle a lot. What I take from Dr. King is I can always do more. I shouldn't just be happy with how things are; I should always try to make things better. Dr. King never stopped, he went to jail and he eventually died for his beliefs." 

According to www.nobelprize.org, at the age of 35, Martin Luther King Jr. was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to further the civil rights movement. 

Join the African American History Association in celebrating Black History month events throughout February. 

AAHA is joining with the Airman's Council to host a poetry night at the Detour Feb. 15 

A luncheon is scheduled at the Grizzly Bend Club Feb. 20, Brig. Gen. Everett Thomas, vice commander, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, Nellis AFB, will be the guest speaker. 

For more information about joining AAHA, contact Sergeant Goins at 731-6667.