Today, we at US Family Health Plan honor and celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Dr. King embraced a vision of equal rights and justice for all. His leadership in the U.S. civil rights movement, changed our nation forever. He helped bring down towering walls of hatred.  He conquered intolerance and inspired the creation of new laws recognizing human rights and equality. He helped construct strong, lasting bridges among diverse and divergent peoples.  He ushered in an unprecedented age of unity and harmony, that until then, was unimaginable to most.

Let’s call to mind one of Dr. King’s most memorable quotes -- “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in times of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy”. These are resonant with meaning today, as we collectively stand in the midst of challenge and controversy at almost every corner of the world.  Many of us in the military are on the very front lines of these global challenges.  As a country we press onward toward a better and more stable world filled with peace and justice for all.   

Today, we can lean on the wisdom and inspiration of Dr. King to remember that all men are created equal, and the best, most durable bridges are built on bonds of love, not hatred.    

Let us all take a few moments today to embrace Dr. King’s memory and his dream that “one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed - we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."  Martin Luther King shared a dream with us in1963 that lives on in our hearts and minds to this day. May his legacy continue to grow as we navigate this era’s uncertain waters and move onward to calm shores of peace, justice and harmony for all.