Michigan City MCJROTC Celebrate MLK Day 2015

MCHS-MCJROTC-MLK-Day-2015The Michigan City High School (MCHS) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) honored Dr. Martin Luther King on his holiday on January 19th. The cadets had previously studied King’s “I Have a Dream Speech” during their unit on public speaking. On the holiday, cadets reviewed his life and the vision he provided for America.

“Our course is primarily a leadership course, not a preparation for the military course, and Dr. King was one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century,” said Senior Marine Instructor Major Tom McGrath. “Studying Dr. King is in keeping with our objective of providing skills that will enable cadets to lead in any career, not just the military”.

Cadets were asked to provide their input as to the contributions that Dr. King had made to our country. Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Quinton Dixon, one of three officers in the JROTC, stated that Dr. King’s ability to accomplish what he did nonviolently is what impressed him the most. “To be able to change the thinking of an entire country and persuade our government to pass the Civil Rights Act was such a huge success, and he did it without people getting hurt,” said Dixon.

Although King did not serve in the military, his vision of equal opportunity for all individuals has been incorporated more in the military than in any other facet of

American society, according to Master Sergeant Jeff Benak. “If you go anywhere on any military base-the mess hall, the barracks, the commanding general’s building- you will find our military fully integrated,” said Benak. “The military has shown that what really matters is the content of one’s character, not the color of their skin.”