Living the dream: Soldiers march to recall Dr. King's accomplishments

By Karl Weisel (USAG Wiesbaden)January 18, 2011

Living the dream: Soldiers march to recall Dr. King's accomplishments
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Living the dream: Soldiers march to recall Dr. King's accomplishments
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Living the dream: Soldiers march to recall Dr. King's accomplishments
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Living the dream: Soldiers march to recall Dr. King's accomplishments
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Living the dream: Soldiers march to recall Dr. King's accomplishments
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WIESBADEN, Germany - Even a constant drizzle couldn't dampen the spirits of marchers on Wiesbaden Army Airfield Jan. 13.

As community members made their way from the Community Activity Center to the Wiesbaden Fitness Center in the early morning darkness, they paused to listen as Soldiers shared personal reflections about the life and work of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"On April 4, 1968, our country mourned the loss of this great man," said Spc. Ryan Vaughn, Company A, 24th Military Intelligence Battalion.

Vaughn, who was introduced by Master Sgt. James Farina, Equal Opportunity adviser for the 66th Military Intelligence Brigade, talked about how King "inspired the people of America to believe in a better tomorrow.

"Dr. King taught us what it is to dream," Vaughn said, describing how his efforts to bring true equality in keeping with the spirit of the U.S. Constitution helped ensure that anyone, "regardless of age and upbringing," is capable of changing society and bettering him- or herself.

"I am truly grateful for the sacrifices he made," he said, reminding listeners of the hardships faced by those who stood in the face of aggression during the civil rights movement half a century ago. "His passion was the lighthouse amongst the storm of contention."

Farina, who organized a similar march with fellow EEO advisers in commemoration of the Dr. King observance in 2010, said the event was meant to serve as a reminder of the importance of recognizing the accomplishments of those who fought peacefully to change America for the better.

For Staff Sgt. Andrea Lewis, 1st Military Intelligence Battalion, Dr. King's work was "not just an inspiration for black Americans but for all Americans and people around the world."

Lewis charged listeners to "spend a little extra time" commemorating the achievements of the civil rights leader during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.

Pfc. Alberto Giammatti, 102nd Signal Battalion, reflected on a future envisioned in Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 28, 1963, - a future where children would one day play together regardless of the color of their skin. Saying that that day has come, he added that as a member of the U.S. Army, he was guaranteed the opportunity to advance, vote, get an education and "spread his wings" in whatever endeavor he chose thanks to the efforts of Dr. King and his peers. "All those dreams that Dr. King had are guaranteed today."

It was personal for Sgt. 1st Class Leslie Harris, Headquarters Support Company, 2nd Military Intelligence Battalion.

"Most of us never had the chance to encounter Dr. Martin Luther King as a normal individual," said Harris, detailing how she grew up listening to the stories of her grandmother, Barbara Adeline Jackson, who grew up with King and his siblings in Atlanta, Ga. "My grandmother played dolls with his sister."

And while Jackson eventually moved north to Detroit, she continued to follow her former friend and neighbor's accomplishments on the news. "She knew from an early age that he would go on to greatness," Harris said.

"What I learned from my grandmother is that ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary feats, and that greatness lies within all of us," she added.

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