WINONA LAKE - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was remembered Monday by hundreds of Kosciusko County residents who attended a program to commemorate his life.
The 21st annual tribute program titled "Table of Brotherhood" centering around the Day of Caring was at Rodeheaver Auditorium. It was presented by the Committee to Commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Monday would have been King's 80th birthday.
Dr. Ralph Bailey, Warsaw Community Schools interim superintendent, presented Academic Excellence Awards. Each recipient received a plaque and $1,000 check.Winners were Tiffany Fick and Susana Martinez.
Fick, of Syracuse, is a junior at Indiana University-Bloomington majoring in secondary education.
Martinez, of Milford, is a junior at Goshen College majoring in social work.
The award recognizes a minority or young adult who is of a socially or economically disadvantaged group.
Criteria include the person must be a Kosciusko County resident, provide community service and demonstrate scholastic excellence in high school grades 9 to 12 or post-secondary studies.
The recipients were selected by the Committee to Commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The program also included a luncheon and speakers. A praise team and choir from Touch of Life Church, Warsaw, performed.
Speakers included Joe Banks, chairman of the committee to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; Pam Kennedy, Housing Opportunities of Warsaw executive director; Pat Coy, United Way executive director; and Tony Ciriello, Syracuse town marshall.
The speakers discussed the Day of Caring held in August when hundreds of volunteers worked to improve more than 100 homes in 11 towns in Kosciusko County. The speakers encouraged people who attended the ceremony to get involved in this year's Day of Caring that will be Aug. 26.
Banks paid tribute to King and President Barack Obama.
"Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. challenged both conscience and the soul of the white and black communities," Banks said.
He said King challenged the white community to act on the moral requirements to eliminate hatred and legalized injustice.
Banks also said King challenged the black community to protest non-violently, love in spite of physical hurt, and be gracious in the face of victory.
Banks also made comments about Obama's inauguration.
"It is not the end of the struggle, but it is an historic statement about the greatness of our nation. Many people, white, black, Hispanic, Indian and others have pooled their resources to bring this to fruition," Banks said.
