Honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

By Maj. Gen. Thomas R. Tempel Jr., and Command Sgt. Maj. Marshall L. Huffman, WRMC Command TeamJanuary 15, 2015

MG Tempel
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
CSM Huffman
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

On January 19, 2015, we will honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. -- a champion for the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent behavior. Dr. King's dream of equality, opportunity and justice, coupled with his contributions to the American civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s, significantly impacted our American way of life. The freedoms he exercised, represented and sought are many of the same freedoms our service members defend today.

As a nation, we have enjoyed a federal holiday the third Monday in January in honor of Dr. King's birthday since 1986, when the holiday was first observed. In 1994, Congress also designated the holiday as a National Day of Service, encouraging people to use the day off as a day on, serving their neighborhoods and communities. As we honor the achievements of this great American, I hope you will use some of your time off to reflect on Dr. King's dream of equality, opportunity and justice. Honor his dream by attending a commemorative event in your area or by taking an active role in bettering your community.

During this first long holiday weekend of the New Year, Command Sgt. Maj. Marshall Huffman and I want you to ensure the safety of yourself, your Family, colleagues and friends. If you are traveling on the roadways, remember that winter travel presents unique challenges, often making it especially dangerous. Enjoy your long weekend, but please exercise good judgment this holiday weekend.

One Team … One Mission!

Maj. Gen. Thomas R. Tempel Jr., and Command Sgt. Maj. Marshall L. Huffman

Related Links:

Army Medicine

Western Regional Medical Command