FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Jan. 21, 2016) -- Members of the Fort Drum community gathered Jan. 13 for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. special observance, which was hosted by 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade.
King became involved as a civil rights activist early in his career. He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped to organize the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, which may be one of the most famous speeches given in American history.
He received the Nobel Peace Prize on Oct. 14, 1964, for combating racial inequality through nonviolence.
President Ronald Reagan signed Martin Luther King Day into law in 1983, and it was first observed three years later. In the beginning, some states resisted observing the holiday as such, giving it alternative names or combining it with other holidays. It was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000.
The focus of the observance was "A Day On, Not a Day Off," which simply meant that it isn't just another day off work, but a day to remember and celebrate.
The event began with an invocation given by the 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade chaplain, followed by the national anthem.
What was noteworthy about this observance was what Staff Sgt. Albert Barnes, 10th Special Troops Battalion senior logistician, brought to the table. Barnes delivered a rendition of a speech that King gave in 1965, following the march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala.
The speech wasn't simply read to the audience, but was preached, much like King himself would have.
To add to the character, Barnes also dressed the part, wearing a black suit and a thin black tie.
Command Sgt. Maj. Ann Sydnor, 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade senior enlisted adviser, said she truly appreciates the theme of the observance and took it to heart. Many Soldiers said they were blown away by the performance, saying it added a new dimension to the observance.
Guest speaker for the event was 1st Sgt. Marques Jones, 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade.
Jones talked about when he was growing up in the South, asking his grandmother about how it used to be.
He said his grandparents' house had rocks thrown through windows over and over, and the house was burned to the ground, simply because of the color of their skin.
"After hearing some of the things Jones's Family had to go through, I'm proud to be able to say in my military career I've never had to deal with racism," said Capt. Nate Miller, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 10th STB.
After Jones's speech, a video tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was played for the attendees.
"Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is not just a day off work, but a day to remember the great civil rights leader who helped better the nation and go out and do something for the community," said Sydnor.
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