Fort Benning honors legacy of MLK

FORT BENNING, Ga., (Jan. 21, 2015) -- Military and civilian communities gathered Jan. 15 for Fort Benning's annual commemoration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Derby Auditorium in McGinnis-Wickam Hall.

The commemoration is hosted each year by the Fort Benning Equal Opportunity Office to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Maj. Gen. Scott Miller, commanding general of Fort Benning, told Soldiers that the holiday was more than just a day off from work, but a time to reflect on the sacrifices King and others made to bring change to America.

"For everyone who wears the uniform, all men and women are created equal. And race, color or creed should not be the determining factor," Miller said. "It's what the United States Army must be founded upon. We look at character, confidence and leadership values."

The guest speakers were civil rights activists and authors Minnie Wimbish and her daughter Ethalyn Kirby. Wimbish is a graduate of the Booker T. Washington School of Nursing and a member of the Georgia Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers. Wimbish was chosen as the first black woman to serve as chairperson of the March of Dimes of Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties and was among the first black women to serve as a registrar in the Muscogee County primary election. Ethalyn Kirby is a graduate of Seattle University with a degree in Theology. She has worked as the Assistant Film Librarian of Ogilvy and Mather Advertising Company in New York.

At 99, Wimbish is the only living participant of a program that invited King to visit Columbus on July 1, 1958.

"I liked him because he did a lot of good things and didn't teach hate, everything he taught was love," she said. "I was the only woman to speak at the program. It was a beautiful day and it was a sad day.

It was a sad day, Wimbish said, because of bomb threats against local churches and organizations if King came to the area. Members of the Prince Hall Masonic Temple stood on the roof of the building to keep watch during the program, including Wimbush's husband, Sam Williams.

"We didn't know what was going to happen that day," she said.

Kirby, who was only 10 years old during King's visit, said she appreciated his genuine presence and determination to walk in dangerous territories to spread his message of love and participate in nonviolent protests.

"I was so impressed with the man I chose to marry on his birthday," she said. "I was impressed with his contagious smile, the warmth of his handshake and his philosophy on love."

Kirby said the best way to honor King is to teach youth to understand and value the impact of the Civil Rights Movement.

"We should keep his philosophy before them and teach the young people what the philosophy was all about," she said. "One of the greatest celebrations we can give is to make sure they jump on board so we don't just see elders. The younger people can take hold to what occurred and be appreciative of this changing society."

The event included recitations of King's famous speeches I Have a Dream and I've Been to the Mountaintop by Columbus residents Spivey Green and Aviance Brown.