Community comes together to celebrate life, vision of Martin Luther King, Jr.
A diverse crowd gathered Sunday evening at Friendship Baptist Church, where, for more than two hours, Martin Luther King, Jr. was remembered for the contributions he made in advancing the civil rights movement using non-violent means based on his Christian beliefs.
This year’s theme was “Healing Race Relations Through Conversation.” Event organizer Walter Harris, who chairs the Calhoun- Gordon County Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, opened the ceremony in thankfulness for living in the Calhoun-Gordon County Community. “We are blessed because we have not had to witness the racial tensions here that are going on around the nation,” said Harris. “Thank God that what is happening out there is not reflective of what is happening in our small community.”
There was a lot of singing and worship during the ceremony, where local dignitaries, civic and business leaders and the community in general enjoyed performances by Sister Marie Adams Moore from Chattanooga, Tenn., Big C and the Mighty Voices of Zion from Calhoun, Mikasha Bryant of Rome and others.
Calhoun Mayor Jimmy Palmer read the official proclamation declaring Monday, Jan. 16, 2017 as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in Calhoun. “Everyone says that Martin Luther King, Jr. is dead, but he lives on in each and every one of us,” said Palmer. “What he stood for and accomplished in his life, we can build on and continue with his work.” Local l aw enforcement, For more photos from the event, see page 2B