Dr. King's legacy focus of Mount Triumph commemorative ceremony

Jan. 12—Wayne Hanway almost missed seeing the original telecast of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's famed "I Have A Dream" Speech.

Hanway noted King gave the speech on Aug. 28, 1963, in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

He recalled how someone told him he needed to watch the news that evening.

"I am glad I did," Hanway said. "I heard and saw history being made."

Hanway told the story as members of the McAlester community came together to honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during a commemorative ceremony held Friday at Mount Triumph Baptist Church.

The Rev. Anthony Washington, who is also chairman of the Pittsburg County Holiday Commission, welcomed those attending the event.

Washington noted that the commemorative ceremony was dedicated to the memory of the late Louis Smitherman of McAlester, who served for years on the Pittsburg County Holiday Commission. Smitherman was also a former McAlester city councilor.

Pastor Terren Anderson, of Life Church, gave the invocation, followed by McAlester Mayor John Browne, who read a proclamation declaring Jan. 15 as Martin Luther King Day in McAlester.

Browne asked all of the young people attending the event to stand.

"One of you may be the next Dr. King," he said.

Loise Washington, first lady of Mount Triumph Baptist Church, led the MLK Unity Choir in a rousing rendition of "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands." As the song modulated to a higher key, she had those in the pews standing, clapping and singing along with the choir.

While the choir and audience sang, they were accompanied by musicians including pianist Gerri Burris, with guitarist Don Shoals and Rodney Pinkney on drums.

Carri Parks introduced Hanway, a deacon of the Episcopal Church in McAlester, who served as featured speaker for the event.

Hanway, former director of the Southeast Oklahoma Library System, currently has a prison ministry at Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.

Addressing those attending the ceremony, Hanway referenced Dr. King's well-known "I Have a Dream" speech.

"What did the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. say that was so important? He reminded Americans of the statement made in 1776 in the Declaration of Independence, that 'all men are created equal,"' Hanway said.

"He reminded us that the Emancipation Proclamation, which President Abraham Lincoln had signed 100 years earlier, had promised freedom, opportunity and hope to those who had formerly been slaves. And Dr. King told us those promises had not been kept."

We must be mindful today that we have not yet achieved the dream that Dr. King shared with us, Hanway said.

He also told how around 2,000 years ago, Jesus of Nazareth was born with the mission of setting people spiritually free.

"And God's commandments, Jesus told them, were really much shorter and simpler than the complex law laws they had been trying to understand live by.

"They could be summarized in one word: love. Love God, love others and love yourself."

Hanway noted that King was committed to the principle of non-violence and that he thought highly of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus said "... if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other one also."

Shortly afterwards he says "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven."

Hanway referenced the Civil Rights struggles King and many others went through in the 1960s and said struggles don't have to be violent to be successful.

"Look at how Mahatma Gandhi led the movement for independence in India using a campaign of non-violent resistance," Hanway said. "Dr. King knew a lot about Gandhi and what he accomplished through non-violence."

Hanway told each of those present that we need to live Dr. King's dream today, that someday we will be judged not by the color of our skin, but by the content of our character.

"Remember too, that while living the dream starts with you, it will take the dedicated efforts of many to make the dream a reality," said Hanway.

"You will need to work with others as you spread hope, show courage and promote unity," Hanway said. "As you do so, working in love, you will be part of a force to be reckoned with."

Will Ella Davis, vice chairman of the Pittsburg County Holiday Commission, served as emcee for the event.

The Rev. Cecil Lee gave the benediction to close the commemorative ceremony.

"Never disappointed," said Charlene Doyle, one of those attending the MLK ceremony at Mount Triumph, as the event ended.

"I always come away from here filled up and encouraged."