Military Sealift Command (MSC) hosted a special observance ceremony in recognition of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Junior' s birthday on board Naval Station Norfolk, Jan. 20.

The celebration was coordinated by MSC's Equal Employment Opportunity team and was held to commemorate Dr. King's leadership against racial inequality.

"Thank you for joining us today to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.," said Mr. Clarence White, the celebration's Master of Ceremonies. "Dr. King was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia.

"Dr. King was a Baptist minister and social activist who led the civil rights movement in the United States from the mid-1950s until his death by assassin in 1968," added White. "His leadership was fundamental to the success of the civil rights movement and in ending the legal segregation of African Americans in the south and other parts of the United States."

Mr. Carneal Smith of MSC's Equal Employment Opportunity program played the National Anthem on his saxophone for the approximately 100 civilian and military MSC teammates in attendance.

The opening ceremonies were followed by an address from Key Note Speaker Dr. Ella P. Ward, a City of Chesapeake, Virginia, Councilwoman.

"I am glad you took the time out of your work-day to honor one of the greatest civil rights leaders to ever exist, the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.," said Ward. "Some in this day and time may feel as though we no longer need to observe Dr. King's birthday, but trust me it is important that we do."

"Even as we begin 2016, we need to take a time-out from business as usual to pay tribute to this great leader," added Ward. "Dr. King did a lot of great things but there are still a lot of great things that need to be done."

Dr. Martian Luther King Jr. would have celebrated his 87th birthday if not for his assassination April 4, 1968.

"Dr. King was with us but a very short time," added Ward. "While he is known for leading the Civil Rights Movement, what he really led was a movement for peace for generations to come."

Ward began her third, four-year term on the Chesapeake City Council in July 2015. She was first elected to the City Council in 2006.

"It is important that we pay tribute to Dr. King," said Ward. "We must accurately remember his life, history, character and courage of great leaders like the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr."

Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday is a federally recognized holiday and is held on the third Monday of each January.

For more news from Military Sealift Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/MSC/.