Honoring Dr. King: Annual Wreath-Laying Ceremony at MLK Plaza
(By Post Commander Burrell Parmer) — Legionnaires of Fred Brock American Legion Post No. 828, joined by Sons of the American Legion Squadron No. 828, city officials, clergy, businesses leaders, and community organizations, gathered at Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza on the East Side to present a wreath during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Wreath-laying Ceremony.
The event, hosted by the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, is held annually to honor the life, accomplishments, and legacy of Dr. King. The 2025 theme is “We Are the Dream…It Takes All of Us.”
After presentation of the colors by the Bexar County Buffalo Soldiers and signing of Lift Every Voice and Sing, attendees heard welcoming remarks Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai.
“Dr. King’s message is as relevant today as it was half a century ago. His messages, we must always remember, we must remember, we must remember,” said Sakai. “Dr. King wrote in his 1957 book, “Stride Towards Freedom,” True peace is not nearly the absence of tension, it is the presence of justice.”
Additionally, attendees had the opportunity to hear remarks from Civil Rights activist Arndrea Waters King, who will be the keynote speaker at the commemorative program on Martin Luther King Day at Pittman-Sullivan Park.
The keynote speaker was Ret. Airline Capt. Theresa M. Claiborne who was the first Black woman pilot in the U.S. Air Force and serves as president of Sisters of the Skies, an organization of professional Black female pilots who are committed to supporting future Black aviators through mentorship, professional development, outreach and scholarship.
“Today, we gather to honor and celebrate the legacy of Dr. King. A man whose unwavering commitment to equality, justice and freedom forever transformed the landscape of our nation,” said Caliborne. “His sacrifices, courage and vision benefited all Americans. His work uplifted the moral conscious of the United States and forged pathways to progress resonating across all public and private institutions, urban and rural, communities and professions.”
Fred Brock Post 828 thanks Wreath-laying Ceremony co-chairs, Harold Moore and Mary Fulton-Moore for inviting the Post to participate and honor Dr. King.
The mission of Fred Brock Post 828 is to enhance the well-being of San Antonio’s veterans, their families, the military, and the community by its devotion to mutual helpfulness.
