"We use the word transformation a lot in military medicine,"

With these words, Army Lt. Gen. Ronald Place, Defense Health Agency director, opened the agency's event honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of our nation's greatest civil rights leaders,

"When we talk about Martin Luther King Jr.," he continued, "we're talking about someone who individually transformed how a society a thinks about itself and acts on those beliefs."

In a panel discussion entitled, Dr. King: A leader of nonviolent social change, Naomi Escoffery, chief of business operations for the assistant director of healthcare administration at the DHA; and Eric Smith, chief of staff of the Defense Logistics Agency shared their perspectives on the importance of honoring King's legacy.

A Leader of Transformation

In discussing what about King inspired her most, Escoffery responded, "Dr. King chose nonviolence in the midst of the violence taking place in Vietnam and in the American South."

"He said, 'we're going to confront [violence] with love, respect, and decency for all.'"

Second, she was inspired by King's belief that everyone has a responsibility to help strengthen the nation.

Smith cited King's commitment to the cause of justice and equality as his source of inspiration.

"In his view justice and equality is a moral obligation. He didn't let the threat of jail or violence dissuade him."

King sought to transform our country into a place where justice and equality could thrive.

A Commitment to Nonviolent Action

King believed the best means of creating this transformation was nonviolent social activism, which he called, "not sterile passivity, but a powerful moral force" that leads to lasting social change.