Remembering one of our greatest

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Anthony J. Hyatt
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  A commemoration service was held Friday for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., one of the main leaders in the civil-rights movement, at Chapel one.

Servicemembers, as well as guests from the local community, were in attendance.

The Family of God Baptist Church Choir and Band opened the celebration with songs about not giving up and building a foundation.

Capt. David Black, 325th Fighter Wing head chaplain, began with the invocation and continued with a video clip of Martin Luther King.

"Just look into his eyes, you can tell he means what he says," said Chaplain Black.

After the clip played, two volunteers read scriptures from the Old Testament and the New Testament. Tech. Sgt. Millicence Gordon, 325th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron scheduler, read Leviticus 19:17-18, while Senior Master Sgt. Michael Rabb, 325th AMXS F-22 assistance NCO in charge, read 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a.

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy," read Sergeant Rabb. "Love never fails."

Maj. Carlton Bivens, 325th FW/HC chaplain and main speaker, talked about building a community.

"To build a beloved community, we must first love each other; let go of the past and get beyond the 'diamond,' which refers to all people that come from different places, we all have our clarity issues, we all are of different colored skin and everyone has their own qualities, good and bad," preached Major Bivens.

The choir got the crowd involved, as guests rose out of their seats and danced to the songs "Lift Every Voice and Sing," and "We Shall Overcome," the Freedom Movement theme song.

"The service was a wonderful celebration of Dr. King's legacy," said Maj. Alisa Ricks, 325th Comptroller Squadron commander and attendee. "We all need to continue to think of the needs of others as we try to build a better and stronger community, an attitude definitely promoted by Dr. King."

Assassinated April 4, 1968, Dr. King's courage and selfless devotion to bridge the racial divide inspired men and women of all ages from all around the world.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that," Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously stated. "Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."