The Martin Luther King, Jr. 2014 Celebration Committee invites the City of Covington to join this year’s commemoration of the life of the preacher, dreamer, revolutionist, and the greatest leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. The theme, “The Drum Major Instinct,” illustrates another facet of Dr. King’s life by highlighting a sermon he delivered about the dangerous impulse of wanting to feel important. However, he went on to explain that if you saw him as being at the front of the pack and drawing attention to himself, say that he did it for the right reasons: justice, peace and for righteousness.
Our tribute to Dr. King will include a parade, Celebration Program, and a fun afternoon at the Reverend Peter Atkins Park on Monday, January 20, 2014.
We are pleased to announce our 2014 Annual MLK Service Project is a Food Drive. The Coordinator for this SERVICE event is Kenneth Reeves of the Greater Starlight Baptist Church. All donations will benefit our local Food Bank. Non-perishable items are to be placed in boxes (furnished by the Celebration Committee) located at your place of worship and/or at the Celebration Program. We encourage everyone to attend and bring a food item to the Celebration Program. Following the program all food items will be delivered to our local Food Bank.
The MLK Birthday Celebration will begin at 10:00 a.m., Monday, January 20, 2014, with the customary parade starting at Reverend Peter S. Atkins Park, marching throughout the West 30’s neighborhood, ending at Fuhrmann Auditorium, Greater Covington Center, 317 N. Jefferson Avenue. The Commemorative Service will begin at 11:00 a.m., and feature the Greater Covington Community Gospel Mass Choir. We ask that everyone between the ages of six to 100 years old interested in singing in the Community Mass Choir join us for three rehearsals: Saturday, January 11, 2013, 2:00 p.m. at Mount Zion Pilgrim Baptist Church; Saturday, January 18, 2014, 2:00 p.m. at Bethel Reform Methodist Church; and Sunday, January 19, 2014, 3:00 p.m. at Fuhrmann Auditorium, Greater Covington Center. The spirit-filled, dynamic Reverend George Burris, Pastor of Greater St. James Baptist Church, will be the Keynote Speaker. Immediately following the service, the celebration will continue at Reverend Peter S. Atkins Park with an afternoon of food, games and fellowship. Everything is free!!
For the seventh year, the Greater Covington Chapter of the NAACP is graciously sponsoring an Art (Poster) and Essay contest. Submissions should reflect the theme and rules outlined in the written guidelines. Applications and guidelines are available at Covington City Hall, 317 N. Jefferson Avenue, Covington, LA, Covington Planning and Zoning Department. Entries must be delivered to the Covington Planning and Zoning Department at the Greater Covington Center by noon, Tuesday, January 14, 2014. Awards and winners will be announced at the Commemorative Service.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contact the City of Covington’s Martin Luther King Holiday Celebration Chairperson, Beatrice Dunn Penn, (985) 249-1094, Vice-Chair, Gaynel Martin Perry, (985) 893-3767, City Councilman District A, John Callahan, (985) 264-6767 or Councilman District B, Jerry Coner, (985) 893-9689.
ALL EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
