The Diversity Committee at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) marked Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a celebration Jan. 20 which included a moment of silence, the reading of a portion of his famous speech, and an interpretation of comments by Coretta Scott King.

NMCP's Commanding Officer, Capt. Christopher Culp, made remarks during the ceremony, emphasizing the importance of diversity and how King's message remains relevant.

"We are together much stronger, much better, much more thoughtful, much more powerful when we draw on the talents of each and every one of us with our diverse experiences, our diverse cultural experiences, and our diverse ways of looking at life than we would be if we were less diverse," Culp said. "Dr. King particularly captured that, and -- although his message in the 1960s was about peaceful and respectful resistance to the injustice of civil rights -- his message today is as true as it was then, filling in any of the injustices that the world still faces."

The master of ceremonies, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jose Pina, then asked for a moment of silence, highlighted some of King's accomplishments, and commented on the impact of the "I Have a Dream" speech.

"The 'I Have a Dream' speech by Dr. Martin Luther King is recognized as one of the best speeches ever given," Pina said. "His strong rhetoric demanding racial justice and integrated society became a mantra for the black community and is as familiar to subsequent generations of Americans as the Declaration of Independence. The key message is that all people are created equal, and although not the case in America at the time, Dr. King felt it must be the case in the future."

Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Lanier Hibbler-Cooley remarked on the impact King has had on him before reading an excerpt of the speech.

"His speech moved a nation in a time where those of us in this room would not be sitting together," Hibbler-Cooley said. "We would not share the same field of work; we would not even communicate with each other unless it had to be. This is the speech that our nation goes back to at this time of year and rallies us together."

Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Shena Gentry concluded the ceremony with an interpretation of remarks by King's widow, Coretta.

"My husband derived so much of his strength and inspiration from the love of people who share his dream," Gentry said. "We celebrate his life and achievements in hopes that it encourages people everywhere to reflect on the principle of non-violent social change and racial equality. In the words of my great husband, 'injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

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