USS Abraham Lincoln Hosts Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) hosted a celebration Jan. 18 commemorating the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event was hosted by Lincoln's Diversity Council in the mess decks on the Floating Accommodation Facility (FAF).

"This celebration is not only to highlight Dr. King's achievements, but also to remind our Sailors of the importance of diversity," said Lt. Michael Davis, Lincoln's diversity officer. "Our institution is full of diversity, and holidays such as this one are a chance to get everyone together to celebrate an individual who spent his life promoting the very diversity we represent."

Celebrating the national Martin Luther King, Jr. Day theme, "Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On, Not A Day Off!" the event included a cake cutting, informational displays, and a speech by Lincoln's commanding officer, Capt. Karl O. Thomas.

"We see Monday as a day off from work, but it is important to take a moment on that day and reflect about why we have that day off," said Thomas.
Dr. King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism during the civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law.

"It is because of Dr. King's hard work and all his contributions that I am here today," said Senior Chief Information System Technician Darcella Coopersanders. "It is important to take the time to honor his contributions, because without them our Navy would not be what it is today."

In honor of King's unfinished efforts, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. The first observance was held Jan. 15, 1986, the anniversary of King's birthday. In 1992, President George H.W. Bush proclaimed the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday would be observed every year on the third Monday of January. On Aug. 23, 1994, Congress passed the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday and Service Act, designating the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday as a day of national volunteer service.

"Today's event, just like every year, is a reminder of the characteristics and ideals that Dr. King embodied," said Thomas. "It is important to honor and always remember his achievements, because they are the framework of the Navy's principles of equality."

Abraham Lincoln is currently in Norfolk. Over the next four years, Lincoln will undergo a refueling complex overhaul in Newport News, Va.

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