Press Release
☷U S TRADOC General Gary Brito Reflects on Dr King s Legacy During MLK Observance
U.S. Army ( By Press Release office)
Jan 20,2024
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Gen . Gary M . Brito , the top dog at U . S . Army Training and Doctrine Command , was the main speaker at this year ' s MLK Observance hosted by the U . S . Military Academy . The event , held at the West Point Ballroom , was all about celebrating the amazing legacy of Dr . Martin Luther King Jr . It took place on January 18 , and a photo was snapped by Jorge Garcia/USMA PAO . The Training and Doctrine Command was this year ' s guest speaker , talking about Dr . King ' s achievements and sharing his thoughts on his speeches from over 50 years ago . We all know about Dr . King ' s speeches and his support for causes across the country , Brito said . But one quote that stood out to me while I was studying Dr . King was from the summer of 1966 during protests against hiring discrimination . Dr . King said , ' I am tired of fighting for something that should have been mine from birth , ' Brito quoted . Maybe that can be interpreted as the rights that we all deserve , a world of inclusion and opportunity . That ' s what I want to talk about today , along with some advice for our future leaders in the audience . Dr . King gave around 2 , 500 speeches , many of which were unplanned . His most famous speech , ' I Have a Dream , ' delivered on August 28 , 1963 , spoke to the importance of treating everyone equally , regardless of their color , beliefs , or religion . This powerful speech played a key role in the passing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act , which banned discriminatory employment practices and has benefited generations of Americans since , Brito said . During the event , Brito also talked about how Dr . King ' s influential message applies to every service member who took an oath to defend the Constitution and the people of our nation . Every day , brave men and women from different backgrounds and walks of life fulfill Dr . King ' s dream when they pledge to protect our nation , Brito said . We owe them the chance to serve equally with their fellow Soldiers and embrace their unique potential . The Army isn ' t perfect , and there ' s always room for improvement , Brito mentioned as he discussed the importance of helping Soldiers reach their fullest potential despite the challenges they may face . Like any institution , the Army has its flaws , Brito explained . But we are committed to ensuring that anyone who is able and willing to serve has the opportunity to reach their potential . A person ' s skin color , gender , or upbringing does not define their value or patriotism . Afterward , the event transitioned to a question and answer session , where Brito answered various questions from Soldiers and cadets about building teams , improving as a Soldier , and other topics . At one point , Brito also addressed a question about dealing with racism as a Soldier . He said that during his time in the Army , he has experienced racism and shared some helpful advice on how to handle it professionally . I ' ve personally encountered it too , and unfortunately , it ' s likely that someone else will face the same problem in the future . When asked how to deal with it , Brito said , "At the end of the day , I stayed true to my values and professionalism , which helped me get through it . " As the event ended , Brito gave wise advice to the cadets and junior Soldiers in the room , connecting it to Dr . King ' s message and how it aligns with the Army ' s goals of equality and inclusion . He concluded by saying , "As leaders , it ' s your responsibility to create an environment of unity , respect , and dignity . Through your actions and efforts , you can bring meaning and purpose to Dr . King ' s dream . " Just as I had the duty to help my Soldiers reach their potential , you will also have that responsibility , continuing to fulfill Dr . King ' s vision that we should be judged by who we are , not our appearance .
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