Monday - January 18: In a lively, meaningful and spirited atmosphere about 40 people helped Wellsville celebrate the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today at Village Hall. Mt. Sinai FBH Pastor Darlene Zanders hosted the event and was the Master of Ceremony. Zanders is the Village Liaison from the Wellsville Area Ministerial Assoc.
Born January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, the "father of Civil Rights" never formally graduated from high school. He skipped his freshman and senior years. At the age of 19 he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Morehouse University in 1948. Three years later he earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Crozer Theological Seminary. In 1955 he was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy from Boston University. That same year he became just the 20th pastor at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, AL.
That was the same year a lady by the name of Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a city bus. Her case brought on the 385 day Montgomery bus boycott led the young pastor from the Dexter Avenue church. The rest is history.
In a spirit of fellowship and unity today's celebration was led off signing Lift Every Voice and opening prayer by Nazerene Pastor Dirk Hall. An entertaining performing arts dance was done by the young Raven Davis and Jalisa Farley under the direction of Melissa Davis. Wellsville Councilman Joe Soldano read a poetic message from the working Councilwoman Rosi Goss entitled "Think About It", expressing hope that the dream of the Rev. King lives on in all of us. Aaron Smith offered a prayer to Keep the Dream Alive. Mayor Joe Surace introduced special guests Municipal Court Judge Melissa Byers-Emmerling, County Treasurer Nick Barborak, Asst. County Prosecutor John Gamble, EL Mayor Jim and Mrs. Amy Swogger, Wellsville School Superintendent Rich Bereschik, S.O. Detective Sgt . Jeff and Wellsville Councilwoman Susan Haugh and Soldano.
First Baptist Church Deacon Terry McCuen was the keynote speaker. McCuen gave a brief history of Dr. King and his involvement in the early days of the Civil Rights movement. For his efforts in the deep south King was jailed 20 times, stabbed, had his home bombed and his life sacrificed in the cause of equal rights for all. In 1963 King was named Time Magazine Man of the Year. In '64 he became the youngest man to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. King never once swayed or advocated from his firm principle of non-violent activism. McCuen summed up his address quoting that "heroes and martyrs never die". As with the Rev. Dr. Marting Luther King, Jr., "their memory lives on forever". King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, TN.
In 1983 President Ronald Regan proclaimed King's birthday as a National Holiday. It was first celebrated as a National Holiday in 1986. President George H.W. Bush proclaimed the holiday will be held the third Monday in January in 1992.
Today's celebration concluded with First Baptist minister Rev. Kathy Beckwith offering benediction and everyone joining hands and singing We Shall Overcome, the theme of the Civil Rights efforts. It was a very nice celebration for the birthday of the icon of Civil Rights. If he had lived King would have turned 81 this past Friday.
ole nib
No comments:
Post a Comment