Col. James Jacobson, commander of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing at the Transit Center at Manas, offers opening comments before a Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorative walk Jan. 16, 2012, Kyrgyzstan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco)

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In deployed locations, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is another work day, but Airmen, Soldiers and contractors stationed and working at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, took a few minutes out of their day to participate in a Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorative walk Jan. 16, 2012. The walk began in the transient tent area and ended at the community activities center where the gospel choir shared music with the crowd. Guest speaker Maj. Virgil Scott, the deputy commander for the 376th Expeditionary Medical Group, reflected on Dr. King's life and legacy. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco)

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Senior Airman Montaski McCoy, a passenger terminal representative in the 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, stands next to one of 13 posters highlighting significant moments in the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during a commemorative walk held on the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan Jan. 16, 2012. McCoy is deployed from Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco)

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Members of the Transit Center at Manas gospel choir share acapella music during a Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorative reception Jan. 16, 2012, Kyrgyzstan. The crowd clapped along as the Soldier and Airmen sang the hymn, "This Little Light of Mine." (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco)

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(From left to right) Senior Airman Abigail Smith, a services representative with the 376th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron, Staff Sgt. Michael Strickler, a patrol leader with the 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and Senior Airmen Christopher Rodas and David Ansay both security escorts with the 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineers Squadron, post the colors during a Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorative reception Jan. 16, 2012, at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. Strickler is deployed from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., while Smith is from the Kansas Air National Guard and Rodas and Ansay are deployed from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco)

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Speaking at a Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorative reception, Maj. Virgil Scott, the deputy commander for the 376th Expeditionary Medical Group, gave the crowd his perspective on what it is like to serve in today's Air Force, Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Jan. 16, 2012. Scott is deployed from Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco)

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Jeffrey Aulwurm, a U.S. contractor with the 376th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron, views posters highlighting significant events in the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during a commemorative reception at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Jan. 16, 2012. There were 13 posters that were displayed along a walking route and inside the community activities center. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco)

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Maj. Virgil Scott, the deputy commander for the 376th Expeditionary Medical Group at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, shakes the hand of Col. Jeffrey Thompson, the commander of the 376th EMDG, following Scott's speech at a Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorative reception held Jan. 16, 2012, Kyrgyzstan. Scott is deployed from Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, while Thompson is deployed to the TCM from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco)

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Following a commemorative walk on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Airmen, Soldiers and contractors enjoyed a traditional southern meal while watching a documentary film about the life of Dr. King, Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Jan. 16, 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco)

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Not just another work day

Published Jan. 18, 2012
By Master Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan -- In deployed locations, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is another work day, but Airmen, Soldiers and contractors stationed and working at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, took a few minutes out of their busy day to remember Dr. King and his legacy, Jan. 16.

Though it was cold and the sky threatened the event with tiny snowflakes, a group of nearly 100 military members and contractors began the remembrance event by walking from a transient tent area to the community activities center. Along the route were 13 posters highlighting significant events in the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Once indoors the chapel gospel choir comprised of a Soldier and Airmen, sang hymns.

Guest speaker Maj. Virgil Scott deployed from Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and the deputy commander for the 376th Expeditionary Medical Group, quoted Dr. King in his speech.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character," Scott repeated King's words.

Then Scott explained his equality experience while serving in the U.S. Air Force.

"Throughout my Air Force career, I have served in organizations where I was the only person that looked like me," Scott said. "There is nothing special about being the only one. What's special is the fact that I've never felt like the only one."

The event concluded with folks eating a traditional southern meal and watching a documentary film about Dr. King's life and accomplishments.