RAFs Lakenheath, Mildenhall honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Connor Estes
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  More than 150 Airmen from RAFs Lakenheath and Mildenhall honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Eagle's Landing here Jan. 13. The luncheon celebrated his 82nd birthday.

Dr. King, a Baptist minister from Montgomery, Ala., was a prominent leader of the American civil rights movement.

The federal holiday came to be Nov. 2, 1983, when President Ronald Reagan signed the bill in Dr. King's honor. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is held the third Monday in January and was first celebrated in 1986.

Guest speaker Dr. Lucille Sutherland, RAF Lakenheath Elementary School assistant principal, described Dr. King's life and focused on his speeches.

"Today we honor a mortal man that had an immortal dream," she said. "What if Dr. King didn't dare to dream? Where would humanity be today?"

Using a specific theme, she impressed that present generations must continue his work for humanity.

"One thing I want to leave with you today that is really important to me is: Know that your past doesn't dictate your future," she said. "Allow the actions of the past to catapult you into your perfected destiny."

Dr. King's 'I Have a Dream' speech demanded an end to racial inequality and spoke of a hope for the future.

Tech. Sgt. Everton Hixson, 48th Communication Squadron postmaster and MLK luncheon coordinator, agreed.

"If you look around our military and nation, it's very evident what Dr. King's work did when you see all the different races of people we have working together now," said Sergeant Hixson. "I admire how he stood up for his beliefs without violence, how his sacrifice for freedom and equality made a difference in our lives today. Dr. King's dream definitely came true."

Staff Sgt. LaShandra Cokeley, First Term Airmen Center NCO in charge, concurred with Sergeant Hixson saying, "MLK Day is important to me because it helps us realize the struggles Dr. King went through to get to where we are now with having equality across our military and our nation."