MLK remembrance: Day for service

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dillon Johnston
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  With Martin Luther King Jr. Day coming up Jan. 19, along with it comes opportunities to live and continue the beliefs taught by the holiday's benefactor.

The holiday is not only a day off, but a day of service, aimed at enriching surrounding communities by helping in any way possible.

"The focus for MLK Jr. Day is typically a day of service," said Master Sgt. Gwendolyn Ford, 341st Missile Wing equal opportunity superintendent. "What a lot of his speeches were about and what he lived for was taking care of people."

This attitude of service in the community prevails to today as this year marks the 29th annual celebration of the holiday. Simple actions in the community can assist in garnering a widespread mindset of selfless behavior.

"It can be anything, it could be shoveling a walkway," Ford said. "Any type of service you can provide to someone else just to show that you care; a day of service, a day of caring."

Along with caring for others, the holiday also acts as a reminder of the leaps and bounds made for civil rights in the U.S.

Martin Luther King Jr. once said "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," which Ford took to heart. She believes it is essential to continue teaching and exploring King's messages.

"There are still a lot of struggles going on in the U.S. with minorities," Ford said. "There are still some people who don't understand equality and diversity. If we allow (these teachings) to go away, and discontinue learning, we will never get to the point where there is overall equality for everyone."

The hope for global equality is still a battle being fought, but because of days like MLK Jr. Day, the ideals are sure to never be forgotten.

"My main goal is embracing diversity and people's differences, treating people equally and allowing people to do the things that they want to do," Ford said. "And that's what (King) fought for; allowing people the opportunity to be who they are and do what they would like to do in their lives."

To commemorate the fight which still continues today, there are some events going on in the local community which are free to attend and will focus on the achievements King made:

Jan. 21, 2015 - MLK Jr. Day observance at the Great Falls College MSU at 2 p.m.

Jan. 19, 2015 - MLK Jr. Day celebration at the University of Great Falls at 10 a.m. and at the Mt. Olive Christian Fellowship at 6:30 p.m.

For more information on the celebrations, please contact Ford at 731-4525.