Stella Cisney sings “It’s a Wonderful World” as part of the 52nd annual tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. Jan. 15 at the George Washington Masonic National memorial.
The City of Alexandria paid tribute to the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. in the 52nd annual commemorative program honoring the late Civil Rights icon Jan. 15 at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial.
“Our mission is clear,” said Mayor Alyia Gaskins on what would have been King’s 96th birthday. “Dr. King told us years ago that the mission before us is for each of us to work together, to work collectively and to work for a more just, equitable and inclusive society.”
First started in 1973 and hosted by Alexandria’s Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Planning Committee, the program celebrated 52 years of honoring King. The event began a decade before President Ronald Reagan signed a bill in 1983 recognizing the birthday of the Civil Rights icon as a national holiday.
With a theme of “Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice and Democracy,” the program opened with the traditional Procession of Faiths by clergy representing Alexandria’s faith community. Jackson Caesar performed “Still I Rise/A Change is Gonna Come” with Rev. Robin Anderson of Commonwealth Baptist Church offering the invocation.
Sen. Tim Kaine, recalling that he was 10 years old when King was assassinated, spoke of the inspiration of King’s words that continues today.
“What is so worthy to commemorate every year about King is his writing,” Kaine said. “His preaching and advocacy was so broad that in different moments in life there’s always something that he said that matches up with the moment.”
MLK planning committee member Rosa Byrd was chair of the program which recognized Lawrence Robinson for more than 50 years of service on the committee. Both are Living Legends of Alexandria for their significant contributions to the community.
“This will be my last year on the committee,” said Robinson, 94, and one of the original members of the planning committee in 1973. "There was no federal holiday back then but we just had to make sure that people didn't forget who King was and what he did.”
Added Byrd, “We will keep this dream alive.”
Mayor Alyia Gaskins speaks about the significance of the 52nd tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. Jan. 15 at the George Washington Masonic Memorial.