Honking horns filled the air just off Courthouse Square Monday morning as the community gathered to honor and celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.This year’s theme was “Keeping the Dream Alive – This too shall pass.” In light of the pandemic the celebration committee held a car parade around the downtown area before people parked their cars in the lot on West Jefferson Street to hear word and song honoring the Civil Rights leader. Attendees were asked to remain in their vehicles for the celebration.Celebrants were welcomed by Birthday Program Chairman Charlotte Miller before being led in an opening prayer by Rev. Marvin K. Myles, Jr.Keynote speaker, the Rev. Dr. Marvin K. Myles, Sr., is pastor of Christian Liberty M.B. Church in McCool.“This day is important because we come to remember a gift that God gave to the world — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who worked not just for black folk, but who worked for all folk,” he said. “Our theme today is keeping the dream alive, this, too, shall pass. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream that all people would one day be judged on the premise of each other's character and not on the color of their skin. He dreamed that we would follow the Declaration of Independence, which states, in essence, that all people are created equal.”Myles noted that while the people of the world faces many crises now, they will eventually pass.“So many times when a problem is not at our front door, it really doesn't seem to matter to us. But we must know that when a wrong is done to any one of us, it affects all of us. We must learn to stick together. To help your brother or your sister is to help yourself. That's the way we keep the dream alive,” he said. “Now, the insurrection at our nation's capitol affects all of us. No, we were not there personally, but we were there because we, too, are a part of this world. God's Word has no color, and it does not change. There is much unrest in the world. But this too, shall pass.” Myles noted a series of challenges, but also insisted that if people work together with one another and with God, they can be overcome. “We are dealing with the pandemic of covid 19. But this too, shall pass, dealing with the pandemic of racism. But this too, shall pass dealing with the pandemic of socialism. But this too, shall pass dealing with the pandemic of socio economics. But this too, shall pass.”Folliwing the keynote address, Committee Chairman Annie Winters presented honors to several in attendance before the celebration was brought to a close.Other Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemmmoration Committee include Willie Alice Kern, Patricia Nash, Mary Sue Harmon, Andrea Myers, and Charles Hull.
