Eglin marks MLK observance

The holiday is meant to recognize the contributions of Dr. King through community service and charity.

This year’s observance committee planned three events to commemorate King’s dedication to public service; a march to mirror the freedom marches King frequently led, a shoe collection to benefit local charity, Children in Crisis, and a hygiene kit distribution to local homeless. The committee also organized the observance ceremony.

The observance featured Lt. Col. Antonio Love, 96th Medical Support Squadron, as the guest speaker. Love focused his time on a message of celebrating diversity through unity and building relationships.

After reading an excerpt from President Barack Obama’s 2016 Martin Luther King, Jr. Proclamation, Love emphasized the President’s call to create a better future.

“The words that pricked my conscience is the notion to cherish dignity and opportunity not only for our own daughters and sons, but also for our neighbor’s children,” said Love. “I offer, our neighbor is not necessarily the person or people living in the dwelling next to us.”

Love discussed the meaning of neighbor and taking a broad view of the term, noting we must think beyond neighborhood or other physical and social boundaries. He stated if we do not look beyond these boundaries and reach out to each other, “we become blinded and indifferent to the realities of the plight of those outside of our bubble.”

“This situation creates an ‘us versus them’ dynamic that threatens the very fabric of the American creed,” said Love.

Love ended his remarks by suggesting ways to reach out to those in our community and build relationships that might not be in our normal social group and reiterated the question “who is your neighbor?”

He charged the audience with honoring King’s legacy by stepping outside their bubble and cultivating one relationship and finding the capacity to love their neighbor.