Incirlik celebrates MLK

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jason Burton
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Team Incirlik celebrated the life and legacy of Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr., Jan. 22, during the 2008 MLK remembrance luncheon at the Incirlik Consolidated Club.

More than 140 people attended the event, which included a reflection of history with a panel of five participants, a question and answer session, a musical performance by the Incirlik Elementary Honors choir, and a lunch buffet.

Byron Clark, 39th Mission Support Squadron Airman and Family Readiness Center volunteer and master of ceremonies for the event, said, "Today, we pause to celebrate a man; celebrate a dream. Doctor King's legacy is that he dared to dream of a brighter tomorrow. His message of equality, justice, and freedom were not only for a people, not only for a time; but rather, his words were for all people and for all of time."

After the lunch portion of the event, Mr. Clark introduced the five Incirlik members who shared their own personal reflections on Dr. King's legacy.

The five volunteer panelists were: Raynard Eddings, Incirlik Unit School principal; Airman 1st Class Richard Hobbs, 39th Security Forces Squadron; Tech. Sgt. Jennell Chalk, 39th Air Base Wing Airmen Leadership School instructor; Chief Master Sgt. Jeffery Antwine, 39 ABW command chief; and Lt. Col. Rebecca Gober, 39th Medical Group chief nurse.

Mr. Eddings said he was honored to have the opportunity to share his thoughts on Dr. King. Every year he gets out his Dr. King tapes and DVDs and his family listens to the "I have a Dream" speech.

"There has never been a year that I have not been inspired," he said. "Every time I see him delivering that powerful message - a message that changed the world."

Mr. Eddings feels there were many things that made Dr. King a great man, but he believes his conviction was key.

"Dr. King was completely committed to the convictions of his heart," he said. "He put everything that he was into following his convictions."

Airman Hobbs said that because of what Dr. King did, he can be proud to be African American and a citizen of the United States.

"Dr. King wanted to show the world what it was really missing," Airman Hobbs said. "His message was to better mankind. Seeing myself in the military today, and then imaging 50 years ago, I couldn't imagine serving my country, while being segregated."

Dr. King's actions did not just effect African Americans, and this day should not be viewed as an African American holiday, said Sergeant Chalk.

"He wanted equality for all mankind and this holiday represents a man who wanted the American dream for his family, your family and all generations that will follow us," she said.

At the conclusion of the panelist session, the floor was open for a question and answer session where Airman Hobbs was asked how Dr. King professionally and personally affected his life.

"I would say he made me more comfortable at work," he answered. "It is easier for me to go to my supervisor if he is not of my race, and I don't feel self conscious about the color of my skin."

After a musical performance by the Incirlik Elementary Honors Choir, Col. Philip McDaniel, 39 ABW commander, thanked everyone that made the event a success and ended the ceremony with closing remarks.

"Hopefully each of us will walk away with a new thought or rekindled passion on what Dr. King brought to us," Colonel McDaniel said. "He brought something to each of us, not just part of our society but to our entire society."