News>Lajes celebrates unity during African American Heritage Month Luncheon
Photos
Tech. Sgt. Dominique Bonapart, 65th Operations Support Squadron, Staff Sgt. John Rogers, 65th OSS, Staff Sgt. Khadir Truth, 65th Security Forces Squadron, and Staff Sgt. William Smith (not pictured), 65th Communications Squadron, perform a skit called "The Waiting Room," showing examples of different emotions or attitudes men had toward participating in the 1963 March on Washington, including fear and excitement. (Photo by Lucas Silva)
Congressman John Lewis speaks to Lajes Airmen in a recorded video to thank them for their service as well as provide words of encouragement during the African American Heritage Month Luncheon Feb. 7. Lewis is the only one of 10 leaders of the March on Washington in 1963 who is still alive today. (Photo by Lucas Silva)
Nate Morrison, 65th Force Support Squadron, sings "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers then enters into a poem he authored of the same title, describing the importance of interdependence within a community during the African American Heritage Month Luncheon Feb. 7. (Photo by Lucas Silva)
Neisha Rogers, president of the African American Heritage Committee, presents a token of appreciation to Col. John Oliver, 65th Mission Support Group commander, for his words of inspiration during the African American Heritage Month Luncheon Feb. 7. (Photo by Lucas Silva)
by Staff Sgt. Angelique N. Smythe
65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
2/12/2013 - LAJES FIELD, Azores -- Team Lajes joined together for the 2013 African American History Month Luncheon Feb. 7 at the Top of the Rock Club.
The month's overall theme in celebration of African American history is "At the Crossroads of Freedom and Equality: The Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington."
The March on Washington in 1963 was an important event in the history of civil rights movement. Of the 10 people who spoke during the march, Congressman John Lewis is the only one still alive.
"We asked Congressman Lewis to share some words with us about the march; he was more than happy to do so," said Senior Airman Jason Holmes, narrator of the event from the 65th Civil Engineer Squadron.
In a recorded video, Lewis began by extending his appreciation to all service members for everything they do in protecting and defending the United States of America.
"In 1963 - 50 years ago - I was one of the leaders of the March on Washington - one of the leaders standing up for racial equality," he said. "Many years earlier, I'd been involved in the sit-ins to end segregation and racial discrimination in places of public accommodation. We came to Washington to petition the government - to petition not just the President, but also the Congress, in support of a strong civil rights bill."
Lewis was the sixth individual to speak at the March on Washington. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was the tenth.
"Out of the 10 people who spoke that day, I'm the only one still around - standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial where Dr. King said, 'I have a dream today,'" Lewis said. "Almost 50 years later, we have witnessed the election of an African American president, not just one time, but twice. The March on Washington changed America forever. We still have work to do... but we must never ever give up or give in, but keep the faith, and keep our eyes on the prize."
After Lewis' message to the audience, four Airmen performed a skit called "The Waiting Room," showing examples of different emotions or attitudes men had toward participating in the 1963 March on Washington, including fear and excitement.
Nate Morrison, 65th Force Support Squadron, then took to the stage singing "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers and entered into a poem he authored of the same title, "Lean on Me."
"In today's world we have created an independent environment to the point where people no longer rely upon each other," he explained. "Sometimes when life throws a curve ball, it can be devastating to be independent with a feeling of having no one to turn to. We can't lose sight of the 'village people' mentality we used to have. It still takes a village to raise our kids, which encourages us all to lean on each other."
Guest speaker, Col. John Oliver, 65th Mission Support Group commander, delivered a message based on the theme "Community: Coming together on one accord."
He painted several pictures for the audience of a married couple, a professional sports team, and a nation which had all been through struggles but their successes or unsuccessfulness depended upon their level of unity.
"There are some pretty big and pretty complicated pictures of marriages, great nations and social causes," he said. "Throughout all of those pictures, I'll tell you that they are lined with some blood, some suffering and some tombstones along the way. But they're also lined with some resiliency, some hope and a remnant. That remnant happens to be those folks who were able to get up and press on past that suffering. Folks were beaten and injured just for marching peacefully. I'd say if you asked those people if the unity or the struggle that they went through was worth it, in every case you'd get a resounding yes."
In closing, Oliver quoted the book of Ecclesiastics 4:9-12, which begins with "Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor," and ends with "A threefold cord is not easily broken."
As an example, he brought everyone's attention to the strength of the pieces of rope which bound the event programs on their tables.
"Unity is best because in unity there are results," he said. "There is rescue; there is comfort in companionship; there's safety; and there's strength."
The event ended with Neisha Rogers, president of the African American Heritage Committee, presenting a token of appreciation to Oliver for his words of inspiration.
