Luncheon honors MLK’s call to serve

  • Published
  • By Ryan Hansen
  • AFWA Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  Members of Team Offutt joined with local and state civic leaders to honor the late civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and commemorate his birthday during a luncheon at the Patriot Club here Jan. 16. 

The event began with a moving slide show that featured Dr. King during a tumultuous time in our nation's history. Famous images of the activist and Baptist minister were shown as his inspiring voice rang through the club's speakers. 

The featured speaker for the event was Retired Brig. Gen. Toreaser Steele. General Steele spent 31 years in the Air Force and believes Dr. King's call to serve is very similar to those in uniform. 

"I believe that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a great leader and was able to affect change on such a large scale because first, he was a servant leader," General Steele said. 

"Those in uniform and those in service to this nation ... identify with that same call to serve, to serve the people of these United States of America." 

General Steele spent time at Offutt as the command division chief and special assistant to the commander of the Strategic Air Command from June 1990 to June 1992. During her speech she talked about her career and how she learned early on that it is better to give than receive, which is a life lesson she continues to use to this day. 

"Giving is one of those God ordained principles that enable us to get back 100 fold of what we put in and more," she said. "Just as Dr. King's cause was freedom for those without it, the 100 fold of those who serve in the U.S. military is also freedom. Freedom not just for themselves, their family and those they love, but freedom for an entire nation."
While Dr. King faced an uphill battle as a leader in the right for equal rights, his amazing character and dedication to service and giving still rings true to this day. 

"Our precious God given freedom that Dr. King fought to extend to African Americans and to all Americans must be preserved and passed onto to each generation that comes after us," General Steele said. "That is why the investment that we make and the service that we give to people is the investment that will always grow." 

Brig. Gen. James Jones, 55th Wing commander, thanked General Steele for speaking at the event and said that Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a great way to reflect on what serving in the Air Force is all about. 

"This was just an incredible message we heard here today and really reminds us of what this day is all about," he said. "Service before self is one of our core values and if we can make a positive difference in one person's life, what a difference that can make. 

"Dr. King was an excellent example of that and he really showed us why we need to do the same," he added. 

The luncheon concluded with those in attendance singing, "Life Every Voice and Sing."