Photo by Larry Sorcher Motivational story teller Bill Brimmette performs as Martin Luther King Jr., at the Post Chapel in January.

Maj. Carmen Bell, USAMMA, introduced guest speaker ‘‘Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” at the event honoring the civil rights leader.

The speaker was actually Bill Grimmette, a master motivational storyteller, who declaimed some of Dr. King’s most important words from his lifetime of speeches and letters. A retired Army officer, Grimmette’s goal was to induce the audience as he spoke of Dr. King’s journey through his inspirational words.

He reiterated Dr. King’s message of non-violence, which he learned from Matahtma Ghandi’s image and legacy, and his renunciation of the divide of the ‘‘black power” chant and idea backed by others in the civil rights movement.

‘‘We must make a commitment to voting rights and to education,” Grimmette said echoing Dr. King. ‘‘It all goes back to the words of Thomas Jefferson and Jesus. Am I helping my brother and sister to overcome? This is not just about the black man; this is about all of America.

‘‘Let freedom ring all across the nation. Free at last. Thank God always that we are free at last.”

After acknowledging a heartfelt standing ovation, Grimmette received a token of appreciation from Col. Timothy Lamb, USAMMA. He then paid tribute to Dr. King’s life.

‘‘Let his life example inspire you,” Lamb said. ‘‘He met all challenges to fulfill his dream. He gave credibility to our nation’s commitment to human rights in the world. He struggled for all people.”

Sgt. 1st Class Melissa Hunter attended several celebrations of Dr. King’s life, but ‘‘this was the best,” she said. ‘‘It was as though it was him; it was really done from his perspective.”

For this important occasion, much of the chapel’s walls were turned into a tribute to Dr. King. The dining room, in particular, was a history lesson in civil rights and Dr. King’s mark on the struggle. Photos and reproductions of some of his most memorable words and deeds covered the walls and were displayed as tent cards down the middle of all the tables.

Master Sgt. Kenneth Howland discovered some little-known family pictures of King to add to the displays.

Howland also provided a word search puzzle, a crossword puzzle, and a multiple-choice quiz all based on Dr. King’s life and accomplishments that provided moments of competition for those who gathered in the dining facility after the performance. Billed as hors d’oeuvres in the program, the repast provided a lunch for the large multi-racial crowd that was a mix of military and civilians.

Among those in attendance was Carole Trumpower, USAMMA, who attended ‘‘out of respect for Dr. King.”

‘‘We need to pay him that respect for uniting the different races. He showed courage as he spent his career motivating people to the way of non-violence. He did it peacefully and successfully.”