Life and work of Dr. King celebrated at luncheon Published Jan. 21, 2015 By Airman 1st Class Kiana Brothers 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, life and work were honored during a luncheon Jan. 14 at the Scott Club. The theme for this year's celebration was "Remember, celebrate and act; it is a day on ... not a day off." "These types of events are important to hold every year because people kind of forget," said 1st Lt. Jonathon Davis, a speaker at the luncheon. "Everybody goes through life and is busy with family and work; sometimes we don't have the time to just sit down and remember the people from our past. I think this event helps us take a step back and pay homage to the people who contributed so much to our nation." Davis mentioned that while he was growing up, King was always a major part of his childhood. He would watch King on the History Channel every year and heard many stories about everything he has accomplished. He took a lot of pride in King, but to hear other individuals' stories was also inspiring for him, he said. Chief Master Sgt. Robert Dandridge, who also delivered a speech at the luncheon, said, "Luckily for me, because of some of the things I've already lived through, I receive the honor of speaking during this event quite often. King once said, 'The quality, not the longevity, of one's life is what's important.'" And King's life reflected that. He played a pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement. He didn't just speak those words; he lived them. At the age of 14, King entered the Christian ministry and was ordained at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia and became a civil rights activist early in his career. He was arrested 30 times for his participation in civil rights activities. Throughout his life, he organized and led protests against racial segregation and economic injustice. King helped organize the 1963 March on Washington. It was during this event that he delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. On Oct. 14, 1964, King received the Nobel Peace Prize for fighting against racial inequality through nonviolence. Toward the end of his life, he expanded his focus to include poverty and the Vietnam War. Dandridge said all the leaders together make every effort to support programs like this. "We're remembering each year to make sure people don't forget to always celebrate and to act."