Fort Huachuca, Arizona -- The 309th Military Intelligence Battalion hosted the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance at Cochise Theater Jan. 12 featuring a special video presentation and guest speaker.
A presentation including photos, quotes and video clips of Martin Luther King Jr.'s speeches set the tone of the event and Lt. Col. Mark Denton, commander, 309th MI Bn., introduced guest speaker Dr. Atticus Register.
"I was born and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina, from which I gained much of my understanding about prejudice and equality," Register began. "In my hometown, whites and African Americans were generally OK talking on the streets, but when it came to sitting in a restaurant and eating together it was unthinkable. Most often the African American would order and wait at the end of the counter or outside the restaurant or sometimes, they were allowed to eat in the kitchen.
"As I began to reflect on my time in the military, from 1965 to 1985, I am proud and thankful for the opportunity to serve our great country, these United States of America. But I also realize that I was set in the midst of a stage while assigned to Fort Dix and Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, and in Germany that carries some significance when related to equality in the military and in America.
"These assignments carried implications which I did not understand then, but now the relevancy of what I know today speaks out very loud on the issues of equality, then and now," Register said.
He then described a situation he had observed as a Soldier.
"I had friends in the Army who were African American and often I was treated better by them than by my white counterparts while I was assigned. Yet at the same time, my African-American friends were being disenfranchised. Fort Dix and Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, were two of the locations that were known, in 1967 through 1971 era, where interracial marriages were allowed to be assigned. But even with that assignment, there were challenges among some of my friends who were married."
Register continued "Part of the challenge was finding a place to live. The housing was limited on the installation when it came to interracial marriages. Most often housing was not available on the post. Then when the search was on, and you know how the search can be with wives, and you find that perfect place that you have to live then all of a sudden they say, 'I'm sorry we do not rent to interracial couples'."
He then gave an example of the financial cost that some incurred.
"An African American member in an interracial marriage assigned to Germany, brought his wife to Germany at his expense, after much searching, they found an apartment that would work for them. But the landlord would not allow interracial marriages to rent. And it was too remote and too expensive to get to post, and so he eventually had to return his wife to the U.S."
Register talked about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s passionate fight for equality.
"Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s quest for equality was not just about race. But about all discrimination at all levels and the need to act did not end in the 1960s," Register said.
He spoke about Dr. King's education history and some important events in his life that led up to him stepping into the role of a civil rights leader. He explained how Rosa Parks' defiance of giving up her seat on the bus led Dr. King to lead a boycott of the bus system in Alabama and that led to his role as leader for the Civil Rights Movements.
"There is no greater love than this that a man lay down his life for his friends. The torch has been passed to you and to me," Register said. Now it is up to us to act and to see that the dream and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. lives on. We can be like Rosa Parks and take a stand. Perhaps not by giving up our seat, but by being united together all races for social justice and equality in our day."
Register encourage all to make an effort for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
"Our life and others will be changed for the better when we chose to make a positive influence by making it a day on and not a day off," he said.
Denton closed the event by saying, "Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is a day on, not a day off. One person can make a difference. The difference is [to] move."
Concluding the presentation, Maj. Gen. Scott Berrier, commanding general, U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence and Fort Huachuca; Command Sgt. Maj. Lois Brown, 309th Military Intelligence Battalion; along with Denton presented Register with certificates of achievement and tokens of appreciation and ceremoniously cut the cake with an Army saber.
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