Greetings Brothers of the Third District,
Today, I am asking the District to pause to join the nation in remembering and celebrating the great American leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his immeasurable contributions to the character of our country. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man of deep and abiding faith, compassion, and dedication. He reminded us all that “human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability,” and that “the time is always ripe to do right.” He challenged us all to live up to the ideals enshrined in our founding documents – that we are all created equal, endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
In his eloquent words and in the peaceful, compassionate life he lived, Dr. King gave our nation an inspired and inspiring vision. He had a clear purpose for his life, and it guided how he lived and treated others. We would all do well to think about and learn from his powerful example of a life driven by purpose. Though many years have passed, Dr. King’s lesson is relevant to the way we conduct our own lives. It encourages kindness and patience in how we treat one another. It shapes how we might consider the unique and often unspoken personal experiences and challenges of our friends, families, colleagues, fellow citizens, and the Brothers we serve—and to whom we are devoted. And it reinforces the virtue of our own cardinal principles, values of integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect and excellence.
We are committed to honoring Dr. King’s legacy. That means recognizing the human dignity in all the people we serve. It means protecting the right to vote for all our communities. It means ensuring that those who serve are judged not based on who they are or where they come from, but rather what they have to offer to help defend this country.
We remember that MLK Day is a Day of Service and is observed as a “day on, not a day off.” MLK Day of Service is intended to empower individuals, strengthen communities, bridge barriers, create solutions to social problems, and move us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a “Beloved Community”.
Thank you for your service to your Chapter, to the District, to our Fraternity. May God bless you all as we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
In Friendship,
Kevin Brown
29th Third District Representative