FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas -- The post community came together to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Several events were held Jan. 14 including a celebration at Army Community Service and later in the evening Soldiers and leadership from the 32nd Medical Brigade attended an event at the Hacienda Recreation Center.
The 470th Military Intelligence Brigade from holding their own Martin Luther King commemoration the afternoon of Jan. 14 in the open area across from Building 1000.
Col. Jim Lee, 470th MI Bde. commander, said it was important for the event to be held in the place near the small monument that commemorates his life and indelible contribution to civil rights.
In addition to a tribute to King presented by Maj. Douglas Ingold, brigade human resource manager, two other individuals considered leaders in the civil rights movement were recognized: Cesar Chavez, known for organizing farm laborers; and Betty Friedan, who challenged female stereotypes.
A highlight of the gathering was the appearance of the Cole Elementary School Choir, directed by Sandra Fergins. Some of the children danced or played xylophones as well as sang songs appropriate for the occasion.
Soldiers and members of the Fort Sam Houston community also attended the annual Martin Luther King March Jan. 18 in San Antonio; one of the largest marches in the nation with over 100,000 in attendance. The march began at the MLK Freedom Bridge and ended at Pittman-Sullivan Park.
"What a great day to be an American, everyday is a great day to be an American," said Brig. Gen. Manuel Ortiz, deputy commanding general, U.S. Army South and guest speaker for the event at ACS.
"People make America great, all people. It's people who see a need and are not afraid to take action to defend or promote; or correct or improve America, said Ortiz.
"It's people with passion, conviction, incentive and with the morale courage to take action to make America better. We are here to celebrate one such American, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr."
Ortiz spoke about King's accomplishments, saying "he accomplished many things at a very young age."
King graduated high school at age 15 and went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Morehouse College in 1948. In college, he was elected president of a predominantly white senior class. He received a Ph.D. from Boston University in 1955 at the age of 26.
"He was focused, had self-discipline and he had goals," Ortiz said.
According to the Nobel Prize Web site, between 1957 and 1968 King traveled over 6 million miles and spoke over 2,500 times, wrote five books and authored many articles.
In 1963, King was named "Man of the Year" by Time Magazine and at age 35 he was the youngest man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
"The prize was $54,123, but in 1963 the average income in the U.S. was only about $5,800. He donated the prize money to the furtherance of the civil rights movement," Ortiz said.
King was a third-generation pastor serving as co-pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta where his father and grandfather also were pastors.
"He grew up as a man of great spiritual strength and had a powerful way of speaking. He was also a man of vision and determination and never stopped dreaming of what could be," Ortiz said, reading four lines from MLK's 'I have a dream' speech.
The Powerhouse Divas performed at both ACS and the Hacienda events singing songs relating to King's ideals and philosophy such as "A Change is Gonna Come" and "Hero."
"I have never seen a Soldier-audience so moved during a celebration of this nature," said Jewel Terrrell, recreation assistant at the Hacienda.
"You could tell they were really into the music and the purpose of the event. It was amazing," she said.
"His dream was deeply rooted in the American dream." Ortiz said. "If you go back to the first line of that speech 'we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal' that line came from the Declaration of Independence."
King was assassinated April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tenn. on the balcony of his motel room.
(Ben Paniagua and Gregory Ripps also contributed to this article.)
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