Doctor King epitomizes ‘Service Before Self’

  • Published
  • By Mittie Kelley
  • 436th AW Equal Opportunity director
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  During the 1950s and 60s, civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., recognized the power of service to strengthen communities and achieve common goals for all Americans. In 1994, as a testament to the legacy of Doctor King's life, Congress initiated a Federal holiday, Martin Luther King Day.

Since that time, this Federal holiday honoring Doctor King has been built on transforming the holiday into a national day of community service grounded in the teachings of unity, nonviolence and social justice.

This year would have marked the 80th birthday of Doctor King, a man who dedicated his life to helping Americans of all backgrounds achieve equality of treatment, opportunity and responsibility. He encouraged citizens to contribute to their communities through unity and kindness.

For many years the Department of Defense theme for Doctor King commemoration has been "Make it a Day on...Not a Day off!" The aim of this theme was to create a cultural shift in our thinking, and make the holiday a day on, where people of all ages and backgrounds would come together to improve lives, bridge social barriers and move our nation closer to the "Beloved Community" that Dr. King envisioned.

This year, across the country, thousands of Americans are gearing up to volunteer in service projects that encourage a Spirit of Service in commemoration of the 2009 Martin Luther King Day on Jan. 19. This theme fits very well with one of the military's Core values "Service before Self."

The benefit of volunteering is that everyone can do something, and even small contributions of time and effort can make a world of difference in the lives of others.

During Doctor King's lifetime, he worked tirelessly toward a dream of equality. He believed in a nation of freedom and justice for all, and encouraged all citizens to live up to the purpose and potential of America by applying the principles of living in a better place to their everyday life. Doctor King believed that each individual possessed the power to lift himself up no matter what his or her circumstances -- rich or poor, black or white, man or woman.

As you reflect on this New Year's, why not identify some act of kindness through service to others you could become involved in. Perhaps you can help an elderly neighbor, become a mentor, collect clothes for the homeless shelters, or donate to a charity. It's people, not programs that will help make this a better place to live. Each of us possesses the power to lift himself or herself up no matter what his or her circumstances.

No matter what your abilities, Team Dover will be a much stronger place if we all join together through volunteer service, beginning with the Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday and continuing throughout the year.