The Fort McCoy community gathered Jan. 11 at McCoy’s Community Center to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a luncheon and educational talk.
The Rev. Peggy M. Williams, executive minister at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Madison, was the guest speaker for the event. She shared some of the history of both the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the holiday in his honor. She also spoke about the work that still needs to be done to achieve King’s dream.
“Although we celebrate, there is still work to be done,” Williams said.
“Dr. King’s dream was about more than racial justice,” she said. “It was about the freedom, the dignity, and the worth of every human being. That is your commonality. You are fighting for the freedom, the dignity, and the worth of every human being.”
King’s “strong, peaceful, and lifelong crusade against segregation and discrimination brought our Nation closer to the founding ideals set forth in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence,” according to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day proclamation signed Jan. 12 by President Donald Trump.
“King advocated for the world we still demand — where the sacred rights of all Americans are protected, rural and urban communities are prosperous from coast to coast, and our limits and our opportunities are defined not by the color of our skin, but by the content of our character. We remember the immense promise of liberty that lies at the foundation of our great Republic, the responsibility it demands from all of us who claim its benefits, and the many sacrifices of those who have come before us.
“In paying tribute to Dr. King, we are reminded that the duty lies with each of us to fulfill the vision of his life’s work,” the proclamation states. “Let us use our time, talents, and resources to give back to our communities and help those less fortunate than us.”
The observance was hosted by the 1st Battalion, 291st Brigade Support Battalion, which belongs to the 181st Multi-Functional Training Brigade.
Fort McCoy’s next observance will be in February for Black History Month.
Date Taken: | 01.19.2018 |
Date Posted: | 01.19.2018 14:06 |
Story ID: | 262580 |
Location: | FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US |
Web Views: | 26 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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