Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - A record crowd of almost 300 people filled Rodeheaver Auditorium Monday to pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
"It is beautiful to see all of the seats being occupied and more people coming in," said Joseph Banks, chairman of the Committee to Commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Inc.
This year's 13th annual memorial luncheon was moved from Center Lake Pavilion to Rodeheaver to accommodate the growing number of attendees, Banks had said earlier.
One of the highlights of the program was a video made last year by Lincoln Elementary fourth-graders Miranda Ettinger, Tyler Huffer, Mallory Kendall and Andrea Myers. The video, comprising pictures drawn by fourth-graders and set to the music of "Don't Laugh At Me," was to show, the students explained to the crowd, "it doesn't matter how you look on the outside, it's what's inside that's important."
After the video was shown, the audience gave the students a spontaneous standing ovation.
Dr. Frank Beard, pastor of Walnut Creek United Methodist Church, brought the crowd to its feet again with his moving and dramatic retelling of three of King's speeches.
Beard's purpose, he said, was to "tell Dr. King's story through his own words."
Also honored during the program were Tamar Strohschein and Sheila Chan, winners of the Academic Excellence Award.
Strohschein, who won the first-place award, is a 1999 graduate of Tippecanoe Valley High School, attends Maryville University - St. Louis and plans to be a physical therapist.
Chan was the second-place winner. She is a 1999 graduate of Warsaw Community High School and attends Indiana University, with plans to obtain an advanced degree in virology and microbiology.
Banks also recognized Warsaw schools' superintendent Dr. Lee Harman for being named Indiana superintendent of the year. He presented Harman and his wife, Sue Harman, who is a teacher at WCHS, with a gift certificate for a night out for two.
"We just want to tell you we really appreciate you," he said.
The luncheon, as always, ended with the singing of "We Shall Overcome." The committee gave to each person attending a business card-size list of five "Dream Challenges": To reach out to someone of another race or culture; to include a family from a different race or culture in a public or private event; to not encourage jokes that insult gender, race, nationality or culture; to participate in church or community projects that help the needy; and to pray for greater understanding among all people in Kosciusko County and the world.
Martin Luther King Jr. was born Jan. 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Ga. He would have been 72 on Monday.
