By Annette D. Janetzke
DLI Public Affairs
International’s from DLIELC participate in the commemoration of LBJ’s birthday
Students from the Defense Language Institute English Language Center had the rare opportunity to
witness a birthday commemoration ceremony for Lyndon Baines Johnson. The Field Studies office
attended this event with 36 DLI students. Their reaction was one of appreciation as expressed in their
own words.
“As a class, we were invited to attend the birthday commemoration for Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th
President of the United States,” said Edite Voitekune from Latvia. “This visit was an exceptional
opportunity and a true treasure for me to meet Johnson’s daughter, Luci, and listen to her impromptu
speech encouraging people to learn something new every day.” “This is my second time at DLI, I had
visited LBJ Ranch 7 years ago and I saw many changes to the ranch.”
The event commenced with Brig. Gen. Bob LaBrutta, 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio
commander and Russ Whitlock, superintendent for Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park who
placed the wreath at the gravesite.
LaBrutta said, “LBJ worked to build a better America for all Americans, which leads to a quote I found
from LBJ: ‘If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must
leave them with more than the miracles of technology, we must leave them with a glimpse of the world
as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it’.”
Labrutta went on to quote N.Y. Herald Tribune journalist W.D. Taylor, who said, ”Barbeque diplomacy
started right here.” In his speech, l Labrutta emphasized that LBJ wanted the ranch to remain a working
ranch not a sterile relic, and it has for all these years. He ended his talk with one last quote from LBJ,
“The noblest search is a search for excellence.”
Laurie Jenschke, Adjunct professor at Texas Lutheran University, sang the battle hymn of the republic,
one of Mrs. Lady Bird Johnson’s favorite hymns.
The keynote speaker, Arron Hernandez, is a resident of Austin and a graduate of Texas State University.
Hernandez is an aspiring politician who hopes to have a political career dedicated to the ideals LBJ set
forth.
LBJ led with an incredible can do spirit. He once said, “While emancipation may be a proclamation it is
not a fact until education is blind to color and employment is unaware of race.” Evidence of his
commitment to equality is displayed by the fact that congress passed the civil rights act in 1964 and the
next year the voting rights act.
At ceremony’s end, Luci Johnson approached the podium and began to address the audience and said, “I
will not put words in my father’s mouth as I dared not in his life time.” Listening to the words of the
speakers and talking with many of the attendees led her to say, “You all give us so much hope for
tomorrow, and that is the most precious gift of all”. She also quoted her mother, Lady Bird, who once
stated, “A day without learning is a day that is wasted.”
She concluded by stating, “So today, think of ways you can do your bit to continue the effort for a ‘Great
Society’”.
“I have a video of this event in my mind which I will not forget. It will play over and over again. The
most important part of this ceremony was observing President Johnson’s passion and love for his
homeland and his passion to secure human rights for all citizens.” These words were expressed by 1Lt
Ridvan Erbas from Turkey. “
Photos by Annette Janetzke VID SL245
Luci Johnson takes time to personnally address DLI students, asking question about their lives.
From left: WO Mouhamed Al Helou from Lebanon, Andrea Benusova from Slovakia, Martina
Kimovska from Macedonia, Edite Voitekune from Latvia, Captain Jorge Loaiza from Chile, and
Marinko Krajnovic from Croatia.
DLI students take the opportunity to capture a moment in time with, LBJ’s youngest daughter,
Luci Johnson.
1Lt Hassan Alzhrani, from Saudi Arabia, takes the opportunity to speak with Big. Gen. Jim Cross.
The story goes--One day LBJ asked his military aide, Maj Jim Cross, “How would you like to be
my pilot for the jet star”. He accepted and became his chief, Air Force One pilot.
Brig. Gen. Bob LaBrutta, 502nd Air Base Wing & Joint Base San Antonio commander and Russ Whitlock,
superintendent for LBJ National Historical Park placed the wreath at the gravesite of the 36th president
of the U.S. This was the 41st commemoration of LBJ’s birthday which originated in 1973 by Mrs. Lady
Bird Johnson to honor the life and legacy of President Johnson.