Col. Rodney L. Lightfoot, the senior communications officer of Eighth Army, delivers a speech as the guest speaker at the Martin Luther King Jr. Observance at Yongsan Garrison, Seoul, South Korea, Jan. 21. (U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Song Jin-sung, Eigh...

Lt. Col. Heather J. Carlisle (left), commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, Eighth Army and Sgt. Maj. Philip E. Nicholson (right), Eighth Army Band, give a gift of appreciation to Col. Rodney L. Lightfoot (center), the senior communica...

Lt. Col. Jimmy C. Mills, current operations officer for U.S. Forces Korea reads President Barack Obama's proclamation on Martin Luther King Jr. day at Yongsan Garrison, Seoul, South Korea, Jan. 21. (U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Song Jin-sung, Eighth Army ...

Eighth Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Bernard S. Champoux (center), Lt. Col. Heather J. Carlisle (left), commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, Eighth Army and Col. Rodney L. Lightfoot (right), the senior communications officer for E...

YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea - Eighth Army celebrated Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision and life with an observance filled with gospels and speeches Jan. 21 at Dragon Hill Lodge, Yongsan Garrison, Seoul, South Korea.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr., who was born Jan. 15, 1929. It was first celebrated in 1986. King was a civil activist who practiced nonviolent protests against discriminatory state and federal laws. He was a leader of the civil rights movement during the mid-20th century.

Even though it has been nearly 50 years since King's death, Col. Rodney L. Lightfoot, guest speaker of the ceremony, thinks it is still necessary to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

"It is important because we, the American people, people of all colors, have not realized the dream," said Lightfoot, the senior communications officer for Eighth Army. The dream is that people treat each other with dignity and respect. "I think this is important to remind people that we need to keep working on it. That we need to keep doing things that integrate our lives," he said.

Promoting equality is quite simple, according to Lightfoot, "when you see something wrong, don't let it go. Make it right."

To intervene and correct someone mistreat someone else, is something everyone can do in their daily lives to continue the work of King, Lightfoot said.

The observance ceremony also featured the South Post Chapel Choir who sang gospel songs, such as "My God is Awesome," "Lift Every Voice and Sing," and "God is Able."

Master Sgt. Warren C. Feaster, Army Special Operations Forces Liaison Element-Korea, who is a member of the South Post Chapel choir, said the songs were purposefully picked to align with King's theme and struggle.

"I grew up in the South, where people really talked and educated us about black history," Feaster said. "But now history seems to be pulling away. So I feel honored just to be part of this where I can also teach my kids about our history."

The ceremony was also attended by Eighth Army leaders such as Lt. Gen. Bernard S. Champoux, Eighth Army commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Ray A. Devens, the top-enlisted Soldier for Eighth Army.