1st Brigade Combat Team presents 'A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'

Photo By 1st Sgt. Brent Williams | Maj. Thomas Perry, brigade adjutant, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad, speaks to Soldiers and friends, Jan. 22, during the 1st BCT Presentation, "A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.," in the Fallen Heroes Room at Forward Operating Base Falcon. Perry, who hails from Monticello, Ga., challenged Soldiers to live up to the Army Values. Perry implored the Soldiers in attendance to possess the same personal courage that King displayed during his fight for civil rights. "All of us Soldiers have a creed that we are supposed to live, and they're called the Army Values," he said. "The question I pose of you today is 'Are you living your creed?'"  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

01.23.2009

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Brent Williams 

1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

By Sgt. 1st Class Brent Williams
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq — A proclamation by the former President of the United States George W. Bush declared Jan. 19, 2009, a federal holiday to "recognize one of history's most consequential advocates for equality and civil rights."

The 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, hosted a special luncheon event: "A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.," Jan. 22, to remember, celebrate and act in the memory of a man who proved to be one of the nation's greatest civil rights leaders during a time when all men were viewed as created equal yet many were treated less than men.

Any individual who embraces freedom regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, national origin or religion, embraces the dream King envisioned for America, said Capt. Tyndall Franklin, commander of Forward Support Company E, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

"This is not just an African-American holiday nor is it just an American holiday: it is a people's holiday," said Franklin, who hails from Shreveport, La.

The birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is observed in more than 100 nations to commemorate a man whose life and legacy shared values very similar to the Army Values of Soldiers today, said Franklin, who served as the master of ceremonies for the celebration.

Sgt. Lisa Lee, chaplain's assistant for the 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div. chaplain, who hails from Lemoore, Calif., and is assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., sang "Precious Lord" to an attentive audience before the introduction of the guest speaker in the Fallen Heroes Room at Forward Operating Base Falcon.

The even was coordinated by Sgt. 1st Class Sonya Walls, who hails from Apopka, Fla., and serves as the brigade equal opportunity advisor, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div. She played an excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's famous speech, "I Have a Dream," which was delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington Aug. 28, 1963.

"When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir," said King, who was born in Atlanta. "This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Maj. Thomas Perry, brigade adjutant, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., a member of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s alma mata, both of whom are graduates of Morehouse College, served as the guest speaker at the commemoration and recognized King's legacy and challenging Soldiers to rises above the status quo.

"A creed is defined as a system of beliefs, principles or opinions, or the compilation of a belief or an opinion," said Perry, who hails from Monticello, Ga. "As I stand here, I am sure that most of you in this room have taken creeds: the Soldier's Creed, the (Non-commissioned Officer) creed, the Drill Sergeant Creed, the Boy Scout's Prayer for those of you who were Boy Scouts."

Perry challenged Soldiers to live up to the Army Values, not just when certain people are nearby — but all the time. He told the gathered Soldiers it is important for them to remain vigilant against the mistreatment or harassment of others because of gender, race or national origin.

Those who sit idly by in the face of discrimination and bigotry are not living up to their creed, explained Perry.

"The Army has set a high standard: a code of conduct for each of us; we have all been inculcated and clearly affirmed these rights when we first came into the military," he said. "All of us Soldiers have a creed that we are supposed to live, and they're called the Army Values. The question I pose of you today is: 'Are you living your creed?'"

Perry implored the Soldiers in attendance to possess the same personal courage that King displayed during his fight for civil rights.

Col. Ted Martin, commander of the 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B, concluded the ceremony with a moment of silence in remembrance of King, who was killed by an assassin's bullet at the age of 39.

Martin reminded the Soldiers in attendance to celebrate the victory King achieved but asked them to also remember the sacrifices of all those involved, especially the King family, who suffered alongside their civic leader.

"We enjoy a lot of freedoms that were purchased by the sacrifices of people like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.," said Martin, who calls Jacksonville Beach, Fla., home. "We can't begin to imagine all the trouble that took place during the civil rights movement, but yet everybody in this room ... has reaped the fruits of this sacrifice."

• Date Taken: 01.23.2009
• Date Posted: 01.23.2009 03:32
• Story ID: 29170
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ