TR Sailors Encouraged to Live the Dream During Dr. King Celebration

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (NNS) -- The USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) diversity team sponsored a memorial program in the ship's wardroom Jan. 18 to honor the late Rev. Dr. Marin Luther King, Jr.

In accordance with NAVADMIN 001/13, TR used the recurring theme, "Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On, Not A Day Off!" for the federal holiday that encourages Sailors to increase their knowledge and awareness of the countless contributions Dr. King made to American history and civil rights through participation in both military and community events.

Chief Logistics Specialist (SW/AW) Renold Thomas recited Dr. King's famous "I Have A Dream" speech and Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) 1st Class (AW/SW) Harrison Moorer sang Bill Withers' famous song "Lean on Me."

The guest speaker for the program was Lt. Cmdr. Holman Agard, operations officer for Afloat Training Group Norfolk. Agard spoke on the topic of "Living the Dream in today's Navy and world."

"The leadership that Dr. King displayed should motivate you just as Theodore Roosevelt's leadership motivates this ship," said Agard.

He said Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. should motivate us as leaders to look past the problems and look to the solutions.

"It is important that we use our influence as leaders for something greater than ourselves," said Agard. "The Navy has many challenges that may not be of the same magnitude as those Dr. King faced, but we should attack those challenges in the same manner he did."

The Supply Department's S-2 division provided a special meal on the mess decks for the crew and a custom cake decorated with a photo of Dr. King and two of his famous quotes.

TR's Executive Officer, Capt. Mark Colombo, gave closing remarks and encouraged those in attendance to be champions of diversity.

"As shipmates, we must learn more about each other's cultures, beliefs, and values so that we can build camaraderie, increase morale, and come closer together as a Navy family as we prepare to deliver this great warship back to the fleet," said Colombo.

Theodore Roosevelt is in the last year of a refueling and complex overhaul at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries.

Dr. King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism during the civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law.

Following in the footsteps of his father, King entered the Christian ministry in February 1948 at the age of 19. He was ordained at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta and in 1954, upon completion of graduate studies at Boston University, he accepted a call to serve at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala. While ministering there, King became an instrumental leader in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, made famous by the arrest of Rosa Parks. The boycott lasted over a year and led to the 1956 District Court ruling that racial segregation on buses was unconstitutional.

Over the course of his lifetime, King was arrested 30 separate times for his participation in civil rights activities.

Although King spent the majority of his life preaching on the issues of social justice, empowerment, love and peace, which won him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, his attention and efforts also included fighting economic injustice. On April 4, 1968, King journeyed to Memphis, Tenn. to help lead sanitation workers in a protest against low wages and intolerable working conditions. While standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, King was shot and ultimately died.

This year will mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan created a federal holiday to mark the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The first official observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was held Jan. 15, 1986, the anniversary of Dr. King's birthday. In 1992, President George H.W. Bush proclaimed the federal holiday would be observed annually on the third Monday of January. In 1994, Congress designated the Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday as a national day of service.

More information on the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, including a search engine to find volunteer opportunities near you can be found online at http://www.mlkday.gov/about/serveonkingday.php.>
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