Eglin MLK event reflects change and diversity

  • Published
  • By Minty Knighton
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  96th Air Base Wing commander, Col. Sal Nodjomian summed up this year's Martin Luther King, Jr. program in one word...inspirational.

This year's event, held Jan. 12, was filled with diversity, the very thing Dr. King preached to the masses.

Eglin's honor guard opened the scene, followed by live contemporary gospel music. Then, students from Eglin Elementary shared their stories of Dr. King.

"Since we are equal, now we can go to the same school," said Kenny Ketcham, a fourth grader. "People are not judged by the color of skin, but the way they act. That's what Dr. Martin Luther King says."

Master Sgt. Scott Matthews, 96th Medical Group, came to hear his daughter, Natalie, a second grader, read her speech.

"Dr. King fought to make it a better place," said Natalie. "We now have to work together to make this an even better place."

Sergeant Matthews' wife, Tech. Sgt. Brooke Matthews, also in the 96th MDG, is deployed to Afghanistan.

"I do wish my mom was here," said Natalie. "She would comfort me and make me feel better about reading my speech in front of a lot of people."

Although the children were reluctant, like Natalie, to stand and speak, their messages of hope were befitting and in line with what the keynote speaker had in store.

Chaplain Col. Wilfred Bristol, command chaplain for Air Force Special Operations Command, opened with a story of five diverse people who were stranded. They were freezing, but not one would help the other. They all perished.

"You see, if America dies, it will not be from the cold out, but the cold within," said Chaplain Bristol. "People must change to build a fire of democracy."

Chaplain Bristol continued telling the audience that differences should not deter from building a country, "our America."

"America has many ethnic groups. It's not white, black or yellow culture; it's not brown," said Chaplain Bristol. "It's an American culture and each must contribute."

The words Chaplain Bristol spoke, were at times poignant and profound.

"America is at a crossroads when it comes to race relations," said Chaplain Bristol. "We've come a long way, but aren't there yet."

Though the chaplain expressed that America still has a way to go in race relations, his words remained hopeful.

"It's mine, it's yours; it's ours," said the chaplain. "We are America and we can do anything if we're committed. "