Zama honors an American legend

Spc. Marcus Miller, 78th Sig. Bn, portrays Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during a skit performed by the Camp Zama Theatrical Group Jan. 9, during the Martin Luther King, Jr. observance ceremony. (U.S. Army photo by Yuichi Imada)	Master Sgt. Moses Toliver, Cmd. Grp., U.S. Army Japan, narrates the Camp Zama Martin Luther King, Jr. observance ceremony Jan. 9 at the Camp Zama Community Cultural Center. (U.S. Army photo by Yuichi Imada)	Dwight Williams, pastor of Pentecostal Christian Fellowship, Sagamihara Family Housing Area, delivers a dynamic speech as the guest speaker for the event. His topic: "Severing the Umbilical Cord of Resistance." (U.S. Army photo by Yuichi Imada)	DeeDee Lowe, worship leader for Protestant service, Camp Zama Chapel, sings "In This Very Room." (U.S. Army photo by Yuichi Imada)

By Esther Dacanay, Editor of TORII online

CAMP ZAMA, Japan (TORII online, Jan. 12, 2006) — Generations after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s death now experience life in “the promised land,” where people are no longer “judged by the color of their skin, but by the continent of their character,” a dream which propelled King to lead civil rights movements, inspiring men and women of all ethnicities to unite under one cause: freedom from oppression in the United States of America.

Soldiers, civilians and family members crowded into the Camp Zama Community and Cultural Center to attend the annual observance ceremony Jan. 9, held for the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was assassinated Apr. 4, 1968. Both the Japanese and American national anthems were played as the prelude to the event.

“I pray we will learn from Dr. King’s passion for life, his steadfastness of equal rights for all and his love for fellow man,” said Maj. Keith Croom, Protestant pastor for Zama Chapel, during his opening prayer. “help us to catch his enthusiasm and strong character.”

Spc. Marcus Miller from the 78th Sig. Bn., let King’s enthusiasm and strong character shine through during “The Interview,” a skit performed by Miller portraying King with Spc. Joseph Cochrane from G4, U.S. Army Japan, Spc. Shalamarose Shelton from U.S. Army Japan Cmd. Grp. and Spc. Jennifer Villagomez, a chaplain assistant from U.S. Army Garrison Japan, all portraying reporters interviewing King at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Ga.

“Dr. King, why continue to lead this struggle?” said Shelton portraying a reporter. “It seemingly has brought you and your family its share of threats and violence.”

“If you have never found something so dear,” said Miller portraying King. “and so precious to you that you are willing to die for it, then you aren’t fit to live.”

Master Sgt. Moses Toliver narrated the ceremony and shared with the audience a tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr., written by Melvin R. Sylvester, Professor Emeritus of Long Island University.

“Within a span of 13 years from 1955 to his death in 1968, [King] was able to expound, expose and extricate America from many wrongs,” said Toliver delivering Sylvester’s tribute. “he provided this nation with a road map so that all people could locate and share together in the abundance of this great democracy.”

Dwight Williams, Programs Operations officer at the Test Measurement Diagnostic Equipment center at Sagami General Depot and pastor for the Sagamihara Housing Area Christian Fellowship Pentecostal service, was the guest speaker for the event.

“During his lifetime, Dr. King sought to forge the common ground on which people from all walks of life could join together to address important community issues,” said Williams during his speech. “Working alongside individuals of all ages, ethinicities and backgrounds, Dr. King encouraged Americans to come together to strengthen communities, alleviate poverty and acknowledge dignity and respect for all human beings. Service, he realized, was the great equalizer.”

The ceremony also included soloists DeeDee Lowe and Charmonique Jackson, who was accompanied by Gwendolyn Reid. The event concluded with award presentations and a cake reception to honor King’s birthday, which is Jan. 15.

Camp Zama will continue honoring King’s legacy through a PowerPoint presentation contest Jan. 19 from 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. at the Youth Center. All entries will be posted on the center’s Web site at www.zamayouthcenter.org. For more information, call 263-8573.