January 19, 2016 - Album - The memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was honored at the Center Triumph Church and on the Center square Monday, January 18, 2016. As is tradition, a parade was started on the square at 4pm and as parade goers traveled the square the voice of Dr. King could be heard from a vehicle leading the parade and resounding off the walls of store fronts.
Once the trip was completed on the square, the parade traveled down Shelbyville Street to Martin Luther King Drive and on to Daniels Street where the Triumph Church is located. Parade participants entered the church and the program began with Rev. Robert Gipson leading the ceremony.
Jocelyn Berry welcomed everyone in attendance, and during her speech she stated, "America has come far since 1863, since 1963, and today in 2016 there is much that we can be proud of and appreciative of. Locally our city has proven their leaders, regardless of race, of age, of gender can be elected to the city council."
Mayor David Chadwick was the speaker for the event, "I want to begin by saluting those who have taken that extra effort to organize the festivities today and make sure that we do not lose sight of this part of our American history."
Mayor Chadwick remarked on the infamous "I have a dream" speech of Dr. King and how it has a renewed meaning for people today as it relates to current events, "While circumstances have changed, the message is significant and as challenging today as it was when it was delivered on August 28, 1963."
Portions of the speech from Dr. King have reference to scripture and Mayor Chadwick asked if these words don't have the same meaning today, "Are these words not the same dream and the same goals that we have today? That is not to say that the dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King, expressed in his speech have not been achieved, or that we in the context of the political climate of 1960s; however, we must realize that this is a never ending dream."
At the end of his speech, Mayor Chadwick stated the dream continues. He asked everyone, including himself, what their role is in fulfilling the dream. He challenged everyone to call upon the Lord for it to be revealed.
During the event, Mayor Chadwick presented two honored guest of the day proclamations. The first was to Bishop Howard Cloudy, Sr., and the second was to Center Post Office Postmaster and Pastor Steven G. Standley.
Toward the end of the event, Veronica Berry announced the winners of the essay/poem contest. The winners include Scotty Garrett and Cadence Polley, with honorable mention given to Estelle Jennings for the contribution of her poem to the competition.
Performances throughout the event were heard from the Mt. Zion Praise & Worship Team who sang, "How Great is Our God;" Veronica Berry recited aloud a poem called "39 Years, Too Short, Too Long, Long Enough" (Read Poem Here); Rev. Chandler Pettis who sang, "How Excellent is Thy Name;" Michael Cloudy who performed "Jesus is Love" and Joyce Borders who sang "Peace in the Valley."
The event ended with Joyce Johnson, MLK Chairperson/Center City Councilwoman, thanking everyone for their contributions to the event. The benediction was given at the end by Bishop Cloudy, Sr.
