MLK Remembrance Walk set for Jan. 12

  • Published
  • By Brad Hicks
  • AEDC/PA
AEDC team members at Arnold Air Force Base are invited to take part in an upcoming event to celebrate the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and honor King and others for their work in securing the freedoms shared today.

The fifth annual MLK Remembrance Walk will be Jan. 12 at 11 a.m. in the lobby of the Administration & Engineering Building, or Building 100. The walk precedes Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which will be celebrated Jan. 15.

The walk, hosted by the AEDC African-American Heritage Committee, will begin in front of Building 100.

AAHC President and AEDC Emergency Manager Lee Smith said Remembrance Walk participants can take part in the full walk, which will take approximately 25 to 30 minutes. Those attendees not wishing or unable to complete the full route may begin the Remembrance Walk in front of Building 100 and complete the loop while the others continue.

“All DOD employees and contractors are invited to attend in accordance with company policy and/or supervisor approval,” Smith said.

AEDC Commander Col. Scott Cain is set to provide opening remarks prior to the start of the Remembrance Walk, and refreshments will be provided before and after the event.

The Remembrance Walk typically draws more than two dozen participants. Smith said the event is important as it provides him and Team AEDC members of all races the opportunity to show appreciation for the efforts of those who fought for racial equality.
“I would say, more than anything, it reminds me that there was a lot of work that went into getting people of color, like me, here as a government employee,” he said. “It’s good to have these walks because we get to talk to other AEDC members and hear the stories directly from members who were here.”

Planning for the MLK Remembrance Walk and the AAHC Black History Month Luncheon began in October. The discussions began early so the AAHC could iron out the point of contact for each event and arrange a guest speaker for the luncheon.

The guest speaker for the 2017 luncheon was Alabama A&M University President Andrew Hugine Jr.

“That was probably the best luncheon I’ve seen in my four years here,” Smith said. “We also took the A&M president and his guests on a tour of the base so they could see the test facilities and what we do. We plan to do the same for our guests next year.”

The 2018 AAHC Black History Month Luncheon will be Feb. 9. More information on that event is forthcoming.