By Nathaniel Swindell, Staff Writer
On Monday, Feb. 3, the 43rd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration was held at Christ Chapel, with speakers including Gettysburg Mayor Rita Frealing, President Bob Iuliano and chaplain and Director of Religious and Spiritual Life Michael Bright. The event was originally scheduled for Monday, Jan. 20, but was delayed due to snowy weather.
Sponsored by the Gettysburg College Office of Diversity & Inclusion and YMCA Hanover at Gettysburg, the event was held to celebrate King’s life and mission so that it may continue today and in the future.
Poster advertising the MLK celebration. (Poster provided by Gettysburg College)
Iuliano spoke about the Gettysburg community and how King’s message relates to the town and the college.
“Under the title of a ‘loving community’ we are once again invited to celebrate Dr. King’s charge,” said Iuliano.
The event consisted of various instrumental songs performed by the Sunderman Conservatory and Jazz Combo. Lyrical songs were sung by Gettysburg Children’s Choir with the Brownsville Church of God Choir. The choirs also gave a rendition of “We Shall Overcome,” a Gospel song associated with the Civil Rights Movement, during which the audience was invited to join in singing.
Chaplain Bright spoke at length about King’s legacy and his impact on America, as well as the way that this has affected the people of today.
“This is an opportunity to celebrate the life and legacy of a lionheart of the human race,” said Bright.
There was also a focus on the celebration of the new year and what it will bring to Gettysburg, with the message that this celebration and the ideas of King should be kept in mind throughout it. Mayor Frealing spoke about how we can apply King’s ideas to the present day and better ourselves in the process.
“This celebration is the beginning of a new year,” said Frealing.
The event also intended to remind those in attendance that they should follow Dr. King’s examples of how to deal with the “conquerors,” those who try to expand their own power while impairing the lives of the people, and remember that without loving and trusting each other we cannot overcome them.
“What made Dr. King stronger than the conqueror, in his world, was his love,” said Bright.
