Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 1-17-17 Edition

Features
Student Community Service
A Fine Start To The New Year:
Day, Lecture Series Event Lead
Decorated Tampa Military Man Is Bucs’ ‘Hero Of The Game’
USF MLK Commemorative
Week Activities
The University of South Florida will celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during MLK Commemorative Week, held Jan. 13 - 20.
The week of events is highlighted by a large-scale community service initiative and a free lecture featuring Alicia Garza, social activist and co-creator of #Black- LivesMatter.
The student-run Univer- sity Lecture Series will host Garza at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7:30 p.m.) on Tuesday, Jan. 17 in the Marshall Stu- dent Center Ballroom.
The student organizers of the event expect Garza to engage the audience in a dis- cussion about race relations in America and how her or- ganization’s activism be- came the national movement it is today, galva- nizing individuals to stand together against violence, police brutality and social injustice.
The lecture is free and open to the public on a lim- ited first-come, first-served basis following priority seat- ing for USF students.
ALICIA GARZA Co-Creator, #BlackLivesMatter
MLK Candlelight Vigil, 6 – 9 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 18, MLK Fountain Plaza. Join Alpha Phi Alpha Frater- nity, Inc. for this annual event.
MLK Dedication Luncheon, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 19, MSC Ballroom.
Attend this luncheon to reflect on the legacy of Mar- tin Luther King, Jr.; seat- ing is limited, RSVP by Jan. 18 at www.usf.edu/student- affairs/multicultural-affairs.
For more information or to view the full schedule, visit the MLK Commemora- tive Week website. For more information about the lec- ture series, including the au- dience policy, visit the ULS
EARL BEDFORD ...Decorated Major
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
A Tampa man who gradu- ated from Tampa’s Robinson High School before matricu- lating to Florida A&M Uni- versity, where he played baseball, was recognized as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ ‘Hero Of The Game.’ Earl Bedford was recognized at the Bucs-Carolina Panthers game at Raymond James Sta- dium.
At every Buccaneers home game, a selected military member is stationed on the Pirate Ship in Buccaneer Cove for the ringing of the ship’s bell and to ready the team for action.
On Sunday, January 1, 2017 the Buccaneers hon- ored U. S. Army Major Earl Bedford. Major Bed- ford enlisted in the Army in 1983 and became a commis- sioned officer after complet- ing Officer Candidate School in June 1989. He served four combat tours in Iraq from 2002 to 2009 as a Special Op- erations Officer and later as a Civil Affairs Planner.
He retired from active duty in February 2013 after almost
MAJ. EARL BEDFORD ...’Hero of the Game,’ Bucs-Panthers – rings ship’s bell to start the game
Major Bedford is also a Chef. On New Year’s Eve, he hosted some fraternity brothers and friends. From left are: Greg Carroll, Leslie Harris, Eddie Johnson, Prince Sherwood, Jermaine Hankerson, Maj. Bedford, his son, Terrence Bedford and Adrian White.
Other events open to the public during USF’s MLK Commemorative Week in- clude: website.
30 years of service. For his dedicated service and supe- rior performance of duty, Major Bedford was awarded two Bronze Stars, three Presidential Unit Cita- tion Awards, four Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Awards, four Global War on Terrorism Service Medals, Senior Parachutists/Jump- master Wings, Air Assault Wings, and a Combat Action Badge for combat operations in Iraq.
To his knowledge, Major Bedford said he is the first African American to receive this award.
“I’ve been a season tick- etholder for 3 years and I don’t recall seeing any broth-
ers of color,” the son of Mrs. Irene Bedford and the late Charles Bedford said.
“At first, I hadn’t thought too much about it. But when they started reading all of these things about me, it be- came a humbling experience and brought tears to my eyes. I started getting so many texts and comments posted from Robinson classmates, FAMU classmates, teammates, a guy in the military in Germany and one of the Carolina Pan- thers (Chris Manhertz) I knew as a Junior Olympian came up to congratulate me,” he explained.
Major Bedford and his wife, Janice are parents to 6 children.
PAGE 2 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017