FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — In lieu of a traditional luncheon at the Pershing Community Center, the 3rd Chemical Brigade hosted Fort Leonard Wood’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance virtually through its Facebook page.
Shared, too, on the installation’s official page — https://www.facebook.com/fortleonardwoodmissouri — the social media posts included a video with pre-recorded statements by Soldiers and a graphic with a quote of King’s: “In a real sense, all life is interrelated. All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, attired in a single garment of destiny.”
The observance followed the theme, “Remember! Celebrate! Act!” which encouraged service members to turn words into action.
“I’d like to speak today on Martin Luther King Jr.’s words, ‘Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly,’” said 1st Lt. Rodney Soares, a platoon leader at Company E, 2nd Battalion, 48th Infantry Regiment. “What affects a single member of a squad radiates out to the other members, to the platoon and throughout the greater formation.”
Soares said the Army epitomizes interconnectedness, and he extrapolated the lesson to apply to life at home.
“What affects a member of your household will affect the entire household indirectly, thus affecting the neighborhood and our communities,” he said. “If we live all of our lives with an attitude of serving and listening to our squad members and neighbors, we will indirectly impart a greater change for good ... across our great nation.”
Sgt. Tony Sims, a personnel sergeant assigned to Company A, 84th Chemical Bn., said King’s message of equality has had an influence on his life.
“This message highlighted the mutual importance of unity in our country,” Sims said. “He was able to directly impact the hearts and minds of his generation, which indirectly affected every generation after him.”
Comparing the future to the past, Sims said the work toward equality is not over, but he encouraged viewers to consider how far the nation has come since King’s life.
“We, as a people, still have work to do, but the inequality gaps between people in the United States have lessened significantly because of Martin Luther King’s message,” he said.
Staff Sgt. Michael Mendoza, a drill sergeant from Company G, 2nd Bn. 10th Inf. Reg., said he considers equality integral to his job.
“As a drill sergeant, I have the ability to impact and change civilians into Soldiers regardless of their race, gender, nationality or creed — because all humans should be treated equally,” Mendoza said.
To learn more about King’s life, visit http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/king/aa_king_subj.html.
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