Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Remembered

By Sgt Daniel Kyle Johnson (2nd BCT, 25th ID )January 31, 2012

Observance
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii " Soldiers, Family and friends on the 25th Infantry Division gather in the Martinez Gym here to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on 17 Jan. The Martin Luther King Jr. observance is held annually by President... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Still I Rise
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii " Sgt. Savannah Hyatt, a combat medic with C Company, 225th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, sings 'Still I Rise' on 17 Jan in the Martinez Gym here in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Martin Luthe... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Nobel
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii " Chaplain (Cpt.) Terrell Byrd, of 225th Brigade Support Battalion, reads Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1964 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech on 17 Jan in the Martinez Gym here in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The M... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii -- Soldiers, Families and friends of the 25th Infantry Division gathered at the Martinez Gym here to observe the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday with a remembrance ceremony Jan. 17

"It was a privilege for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team to host an event honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy of justice, equality and service to one another, all of which are in line with our Army values," said Maj. Michelle Toyofuku, the Brigade Air Defense Artillery Officer.

The observance began with the traditional invocation and singing of the National Anthem, followed by a reading of the 2012 Presidential Proclamation of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday by Cpl. Sawyer Stubbe of the 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.

In the proclamation, President Barrack Obama said, "Today, Dr. King is memorialized on the National Mall where he once spoke, a symbol of how far our nation has come and a testament to the quiet heroes whose names may never appear in history books, but whose selflessness brought about change few thought possible."

Obama went on to say, "His example stirred men and women of all backgrounds to become foot soldiers for justice, and his leadership gave them the courage to refuse the limitations of the day and fight for the prospect of tomorrow."

Sgt. Savannah Hyatt, a combat medic with C Company, 225th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd BCT, echoed the sentiment with her rendition of 'Still I Rise.'

The song stressed the importance of resiliency in everyday life, an ideal very important in today's military both deployed and at home.

Following Hyatt's rendition, Chaplain (Cpt.) Terrell Byrd, 225th BSB, read Dr. King's 1964 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech.

"At the age of 35, Dr. King was the youngest man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and discrimination through civil disobedience and other non-violent means," said Stubbe.

Before concluding the observance, Spc. Marissa Flanigan-Lee, of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery, 2nd BCT, delivered a moving rendition of 'His Eyes on the Sparrow' for those gathered.

Sawyer closed the observance with these powerful words: "Let us remember Dr. King's legacy by honoring our fellow man with service each and every day. Let us devote our free time to helping someone in need. Let us continue to lift each other up as Dr. King wanted."