Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

  • Published
  • By Lt Gen Lee K. Levy II
  • AFSC Commander
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." -- Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

Our founding fathers enshrined those words in the declaration by unanimous consent of the 13 colonies.  Since that time, through the drafting and ratification of the Constitution, our nation has striven to form a more perfect union.

Subsequently through many events and enactments --  such as the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, the Civil Rights Act of 1875, the landmark decision made in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s -- the foundation upon which our nation and our Air Force stands has been shaped.

There is also a person who was just as consequential in changing the attitudes of our nation ... Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was a patriot and one of America's most influential leaders, civil-rights activists and visionaries. As we observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day, our nation honors this man of integrity, who espoused a non-violent movement to obtain equality for African Americans and for all mankind.  

As we continue our mission to deliver combat power for America, let us also continue to work to achieve the vision of Dr. King by championing the rights and liberties of human freedom and dignity, effectuating the common good, and affirming the broader concerns of humanity that Dr. King so eloquently spoke of and for which he ultimately died. For those of you who are not familiar with the writings of Dr. King, a great place to start is with his incredibly powerful "I Have a Dream" speech delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on August 28, 1963.  Read it, reflect on it, and be proud of the changes his words helped to bring about for the United States.

I am proud to serve with you and so very appreciative of what you do for our nation every day.

Your fellow Airman,

LKL II

Lee K. Levy II
Lieutenant General, USAF
Commander

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

  • Published
  • By Lt Gen Lee K. Levy II
  • AFSC Commander
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." -- Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

Our founding fathers enshrined those words in the declaration by unanimous consent of the 13 colonies.  Since that time, through the drafting and ratification of the Constitution, our nation has striven to form a more perfect union.

Subsequently through many events and enactments --  such as the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, the Civil Rights Act of 1875, the landmark decision made in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s -- the foundation upon which our nation and our Air Force stands has been shaped.

There is also a person who was just as consequential in changing the attitudes of our nation ... Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was a patriot and one of America's most influential leaders, civil-rights activists and visionaries. As we observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day, our nation honors this man of integrity, who espoused a non-violent movement to obtain equality for African Americans and for all mankind.  

As we continue our mission to deliver combat power for America, let us also continue to work to achieve the vision of Dr. King by championing the rights and liberties of human freedom and dignity, effectuating the common good, and affirming the broader concerns of humanity that Dr. King so eloquently spoke of and for which he ultimately died. For those of you who are not familiar with the writings of Dr. King, a great place to start is with his incredibly powerful "I Have a Dream" speech delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on August 28, 1963.  Read it, reflect on it, and be proud of the changes his words helped to bring about for the United States.

I am proud to serve with you and so very appreciative of what you do for our nation every day.

Your fellow Airman,

LKL II

Lee K. Levy II
Lieutenant General, USAF
Commander