USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Sailors celebrated the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., on the mess decks aboard the Floating Accommodation Facility (FAF) in Newport News, Jan. 14.

Lincoln Sailors gathered to honor King's legacy and his contributions to equality in America and to reflect on the holiday's recurring theme, "A Day On, Not A Day Off!"

The celebration was led by Cmdr. Maurice Buford, Lincoln's command chaplain, who gave a speech encouraging Sailors to aspire to be like King. He encouraged Sailors to look at all of King's contributions to civil rights for African Americans and examine how they can make a difference in their communities and lives.

"Dr. King put on the garment of resiliency; he understood that a bullet couldn't stop destiny," Buford said. "I encourage you to seize every moment, because life is short. I want to encourage you to be a person of integrity and character; to get out of fear and pursue your dream. It's our hour. It's our time. The question now becomes, 'Will we be people of destiny?'"

Through his actions, King helped to open doors for African-Americans to be able to vote, attend any institute of higher learning, and work in any field.

"Martin Luther King is a figure in not just American history, but human history," said Capt. Ron Ravelo, Lincoln's commanding officer. "I would like all our Sailors to take some time over the long weekend and not just see it as a day off, but to sit back and reflect on how truly important Dr. King was to humanity."

To honor his contribution to civil rights, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established by President Ronald Reagan in 1983, with the first observance held in 1986 on King's birthday, Jan. 15. It was later made into a federal holiday by the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday and Service Act passed by Congress Aug. 23, 1994.

"Martin Luther King represented something greater than civil rights," said Aviation Technician Airman Torre Williams. "The fact that we still celebrate his legacy every year shows the impact he had on the American people. If it weren't for him, the whole landscape of this country would look completely different."

Lincoln is currently undergoing refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News.

Lincoln is the fifth Nimitz-class ship to undergo RCOH, a major life-cycle milestone. Once RCOH is complete, Lincoln will be one of the most modern and technologically advanced Nimitz-class aircraft carriers in the fleet, and will continue to be a vital part of the nation's defense.

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