Day on, not day off for MLK observance

Photo By Sgt. Matthew Waymire | Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Ilerne, left, 2nd Special Troops Battalion equal opportunity advisor, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, leads a round of applause during the 2nd ABCT’s observance of the Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Jan. 20, 2014. The “Warhorse” brigade invited all units to attend its celebration of King’s birthday and to watch his “I Have a Dream” speech in its entirety.  

CAMP BUEHRING, KUWAIT

01.20.2014

Story by Sgt. Matthew Waymire 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – “I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation,” said Martin Luther King Jr., African-American Civil Rights leader, at the beginning of his “I Have a Dream” speech that was shown in its entirety to a packed crowd in the MWR theater at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Jan. 20.

The 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division hosted the MLK Jr. Observance which included a moment of silence, three guest speakers, and the full viewing of King’s speech.

Spc. Melvin Dockett, power-generation equipment repairer, Company A, 62nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion, thought that watching the whole speech gave the audience something to strive for.

“A lot of people haven’t actually seen it in its entirety,” said Dockett. “To see so many people of all different races get together like that, especially during that time period, it gives me hope for today.”

Dockett, one of three guest speakers, gave his views on the impact of King’s speech to the world, the Army, and themselves.

Other participants thought the event taught valuable lessons of tolerance and acceptance within the military ranks.

“The military’s just a big melting pot, we have all races,” said Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Ilerne, event coordinator and battalion equal opportunity representative, 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. “If anyone might feel a certain way, they can learn that they should just embrace their brothers and sisters in arms.”

The “Warhorse” Brigade showed its embracement of King’s message by allowing all units on Camp Buehring to attend its ceremony.

“It was really nice to see that we had such a big impact on the camp,” said Staff Sgt. Ryan Fry, assistant event coordinator, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd STB, 2nd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div. “If we did something like this on just a small camp, the sky’s the limit once we get back to the big division on Fort Carson.”

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a way to turn King’s life and teachings into action to help solve social problems. The service may help with tangible or spiritual needs.

It’s an American federal holiday that occurs on the third Monday of every January.

• Date Taken: 01.20.2014
• Date Posted: 02.07.2014 03:23
• Story ID: 120253
• Location: CAMP BUEHRING, KW