MacDill honors a legacy: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jenay Randolph
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing public affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The 6th Medical Group hosted a ceremony to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Jan. 17, 2014, at the chapel on MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. The ceremony included the base honor guard posting the colors, invocation, a short video of MLK Jr.'s last speech, presentation of plaques and refreshments.

"It was nice to have the cooperation across the wing to make this event possible," said Capt. Shelby Tessendorf, 6th Dental Squadron dentist. "All the agencies came together and were very helpful in the planning and helping us to honor a great man."

The theme was "Making the Dream Our Reality." The ceremony also featured two guest speakers, U.S. Army Capt. Damion Graham and U.S. Air Force Capt. Cornelius Johnson, 6th Air Mobility Wing chaplains.

Graham is a native of St. Catherine, Jamaica West Indies who came to the U.S. in 2000. A year later he joined the U.S. Army Reserves and served as an engineer for seven years. He spoke on the founding fathers, to included MLK Jr., Fredrick Douglas and those who built the foundations for us today.

"Without this foundation and the legacy left by great man, such as Martin Luther King Jr., we would not be the Armed Forces that we are today," said Graham. "The footsteps that we leave behind must be that which our children are proud to follow. We have to continue the legacy."

Graham was followed by Johnson, who spoke on the MLK Jr.'s sermon on the "Three Dimensions of a Complete Life." King defined the dimensions as follows, learning to love you properly, having concern for the welfare of others, and maintaining a spiritual life. Johnson compared King's message to the four pillars of Comprehensive Airman Fitness.

"If we are truly going to be resilient, we should follow Dr. King's words on the three dimensions of a complete life," said Johnson. "I believe Dr. King would be proud because he wanted us to live in a world where people are not judged by the color of their skin, but the content of their character. May we remember that?"