Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"If a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live." —Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. discovered the cause for which he could die for—and he did. Our active military and every veteran understand this principle—freedom is not free.

Dennis H. Smith, director of VA Maryland Health, wrote the following in the Baltimore Sun: "King never served in the military, but he commanded an army of Americans dedicated to fulfilling our country's highest ideal—that all men and all women are created equal; an ideal forged in the heat of battle here at home in the struggle for civil rights and around the world in wars against tyranny and oppression. And he died for his commitment to this ideal.

"His strength and purpose are matched by those of the veterans we serve, representing Americans of all ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds. The key to our success is our diverse workforce with Americans from every racial and ethnic group finding increasing opportunities to serve veterans in rewarding and fulfilling careers.

"King's highest goal was to make all of us better than we are, to help us realize our highest possibilities as individuals and as a people. May God bless this dear and noble nation he fought so hard and died to improve—and may we soon share the radiant vision of unity he so wanted us to see."

I have to say—I agree with Mr. Smith.