Salina honors Martin Luther King Jr. Day with several events, celebrations
Celebrated in the United States each year on the third Monday in January, Martin Luther King Jr. Day marks the birthday of the civil rights and nonviolence hero.
While in 2023, that day will officially be observed Jan. 16, people have already began recognizing and honoring King, with the Salina officially declaring the day in the community during the City Commission meeting this past week.
"Dr. King stood before the entire world as a man of peace, champion of human dignity and an example of love and brotherhood," said Rev. Martha Murchison, who read the proclamation.
The proclamation, signed by outgoing Mayor Trent Davis, urged citizens in Salina to recognize and honor the memory of King.
Events happening Sunday and Monday
In addition to the city officially recognizing the day, other celebrations are happening over a two-day period beginning Sunday.
Ramona Malone, a member of the MLK Ad Hoc Committee, said the theme for the celebration this year is "Striving for the Dream," and starts with a Citywide Interfaith Community Service at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 15 at St. John's Lutheran Church.
"Our speaker will be Rev. Carl Fraizer, who is the pastor at New Hope and Love Community Church and board member of the Center of Peace and Justice in Topeka," Malone said.
Schools throughout the community are not is session Jan. 16, which coincides with the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Youth Program, which begins at noon on Monday at St. John's Missionary Baptist Church.
In addition to musical entertainment, typically including local schools' music departments, Davis will be the featured speaker during the program designed to inspire Salina youth.
To finish the weekend, a final event will begin at 7 p.m. Monday at Kansas Wesleyan University, in Mabee Arena.
"(This) will climax the entire celebration, with speaker Jennifer Gordon," Malone said.
Malone said Gordon, a product of the Salina USD 305 school system, is a retired school administrator in Topeka Public Schools, USD 501, and now serves as vice president and secretary of the Dunbar School Alumni Association, which strives to preserve the memory and history of the school which served Black children kindergarten through eighth grades throughout the segregation era.
Getting the entire community involved
According to Malone, the events over this weekend are open to the public, and will feature representation from "all facets of the community."
The celebrations are not only a way for the community to remember the life of King, but also to look toward the future. This includes by raising funds for local organizations, which will allow the donor the opportunity to receive a commemorative button marking the celebration.
"Donations to the Martin Luther King Jr. Ad Hoc Committee can be made...at the ceremony Monday," said Davis. "Historically, the donations go to two or three public service agencies, such as the Salina (Emergency Aid) Food Bank...Ashby House or similar agencies in town."
This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Salina offering several events to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day
