Don't give up on your dreams

  • Published
  • By Col. Steve Arquiette
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing commander
On Monday we celebrated and reflected on an important leader of the United States, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He dreamt of an American future where people of all races would coexist harmoniously as equals. He fought for the freedoms that today are mostly taken for granted.

Every day, we as military members fight to preserve these very same freedoms at home and abroad.

Unfortunately, the struggles of this national hero are slowly fading as time goes by. In a recent poll in the Washington Post, 80 percent of Americans knew who Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was, but couldn't say what he did for all Americans.

Now is the time to look back, reflect on and refresh our memory and teach our children about why he is such an important American figurehead and why Monday was a national holiday.

Dr. King was born in 1929 in Atlanta, to the Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. and Alberta Williams King. Throughout his youth he was dedicated to his studies and was an above average student, entering Morehouse College at the age of 15; he skipped his ninth and twelfth high school grades without formally graduating.

In 1948, he graduated from Morehouse with a bachelor's degree in sociology, and enrolled in Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pa. By 1951, Dr. King began working towards his doctorate in Systematic Theology at Boston University, and received his Ph.D. in 1955.

After he finished his doctorate, he did not sit back and try to increase his financial gains. Instead he went after his dreams. He experienced racism early in life and decided to do to something to make the world a better and fairer place for all.

As a key leader of the civil rights movement, Dr. King developed a plan of action, overcame the obstacles in the way of freedom for all and lived his dream every single day. He strived to convince people of all races to believe in his cause and led America into a better and more accepting society by setting the example and engaging peacefully and positively with others.

At the age of 35, Martin Luther King, Jr., became the youngest man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.

In addition, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.

Most importantly, he set America on a better path where all people are treated as equals.

On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tenn., Dr. King was assassinated. His dream did not die that day and we as Americans owe a great deal to this courageous leader.

Some of us forego pursuing our dreams because we are afraid to fail or we think it will be impossible to achieve. Dr. King showed us that nothing is impossible. No one will deny that he had an incredible speaking ability, but what made his dream a reality was not his speaking ability, but his courage. The courage to continue on, even in the face of personal uncertainty or danger, is often necessary to effect change.

As you set course for your own personal and professional growth, reflect on Dr. King's leadership and courage--you'll find your dreams and goals are much closer than you think.

BE PROUD! BE SAFE!