By , 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published January 22, 2010
Airman 1st Class Colette Thomas, 31st Medical Support Squadron, sings "Lift Every Voice and Sing," also known as the Black National Anthem, during the Martin Luther King Jr. observance dinner held Jan. 20, 2010 at Aviano Air Base, Italy. The song, originally written as a poem by James Weldon Johnson, was later set to music by his brother John Rosamond Johnson. It was first performed as part of a celebration to honor President Lincoln's birthday in 1900. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tabitha M. Mans)
Brig. Gen. C.Q. Brown Jr., 31st Fighter Wing commander, gives closing remarks during a Martin Luther King Jr. observance dinner held Jan. 20, 2010 at Aviano Air Base, Italy. The federal holiday called Martin Luther King Jr. Day was first celebrated in 1986 and is held on the third Monday in January. Mr. King was a chief spokesman for nonviolent activism during the civil rights movement. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tabitha M. Mans)
Chaplain (Capt.) Christian Williams, a guest speaker from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, highlighted some of the many achievements made by Martin Luther King Jr. during his speech at an observance dinner held Jan. 20, 2010 at Aviano Air Base, Italy. President Reagan signed a bill Nov. 2, 1983, creating the federal holiday called Martin Luther King Jr. Day held on the third Monday in January. It was first celebrated in 1986. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tabitha M. Mans)