VO LIB.® Ill, Number 6
IB February
1963]
Brotherhood r,Teek Is
Basic to Service Life
Brotherhood week, since its first observance in 1934, has encom
passed the week of Washington’s Birthday - this year the 17th th
rough the 24th of February.
why Washington’s Birthday? wGH, could any time before approp
riate than that during which we honor our first President, the iran
who proclaimed that ’’the Government of the United States, w.M.'k
gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance., xe quires
only that they who live under its protection should demean them
selves as good citizens”?
The Founder of His Country thus laid down the principle of polit
ical and religious tolerance that was to be a bedrock of the fledg
ling Republic and a major stimulus to its growth as. a great world
powerGenerations of victims of persecution abroad found refuge on
our shores and the promise of a now life; and in turn their dili
gence, skills and energy sparked our prosperity.
Today, when millions of people in Uurope and Asia live in bondagep
the brotherhood of free men that America exemplifies has never seem
ed a more precious heritage. President Kennedy, as Honorary Chairman
of Brotherhood week, has said that ”human brotherhood is not just a
goal. It is a condition on which our way -o f life depends.” _Aua he
'has called on liis fellow Americans to have ”the strength and the
will to make the brotherhood of man the-'guiding principle of our
daily lives.”
His words should find a ready.reponse in the hearts or service
people everywhere, who understand the meaning of brotherhood bet
ter than we who come from all walks of life to serve in a common
cause, committed to the great and common duty of our country s*def
ense? Our uniform is our ultimate and unique badge of fraternity.
On duty remote as this, here on Adak, the Brotherhood of man is
even more pronounced amoung us service people.