On Monday, Jan. 20, Winchester held its annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration event, and it was one of the most inspiring, beautiful, uplifting events I’ve ever had the pleasure of being a part of.
When the event started, the gym at Saint Joseph Church was immediately full of life and conversation. From the start, I knew it would be a great experience for everyone involved. This was the first time I witnessed the event as it was canceled last year due to weather. However, this year everyone was very determined to stick with tradition regardless of snow or cold weather.
The place was beautifully decorated, with a table in the front for special guests, members of the Unity Board, and Mayor Reed. The tables were full of people, including students, teachers and staff from Clark County, and many Winchester citizens.
After the opening speech and prayer, the Cardinal Singers got to sing Lift Every Voice and Sing. Mr. Olson let me do a bit of a background search on the song and inform the class of its origin. I expected people to stand for it as it’s a highly respected song and known as the Black National Anthem. I wasn’t, however, prepared for the ginormous smiles we were met with, coupled with the tears and genuine appreciation we received from the crowd.
Not only did I get to experience the event with my choir friends, but I got to see how happy everyone was to see our school so involved with the event. It wasn’t another assignment, it was an opportunity to showcase what we really mean to each other and to our community — a group, a family, and a place of belonging.
The walls were covered with artwork from local schools. The students made unity quilts out of small sheets of paper, each decorated by a student to then be connected into one large piece of art. There were tables under them showcasing works from RDC and GRC, ranging from poems to essays, to drawings.
The student involvement blew me away. Since this was the first time I had witnessed this event; I didn’t completely understand how much it meant to everyone until I saw how many people showed up.
The National Honors Society helped serve food and drinks as well. Mrs. Gazave and her family worked hard throughout the event to make sure everyone was served and happy. This was just another great example of how much everyone put into the event.
The most amazing part of this event, however, wasn’t the well-prepared food or the reactions to our choir and students. It was the amazing speech Supreme Court Justice Pamela Goodwine gave during our meal.
It was the most eye-opening, inspiring speech I’ve ever heard. She spoke about her family, how she lost both of her parents tragically before the age of 19. How she was betrayed by family members and the injustice that followed. She talked about how she fell gravely ill not long after, and still managed to persevere and stick to her dreams.
I was blown away after every sentence of her story. She made a point to encourage us to stick to our dreams and fight for them. She was so inspirational and well-spoken. We all learned something from her, even if we didn’t all learn the same things.
It’s hard to pinpoint what my favorite part of the event was, especially when it kept getting better and better. However, at the end when everyone was free to go home, almost everyone stayed to help clean up. I don’t know what it was about that small, normal gesture, but it was the perfect ending to the event.
Martin Luther King Day is a day to remember Dr. King’s dream of unity, inclusivity, and community. It’s a day we all come together to celebrate the bitter-sweetness of his legacy. I have never felt more a part of something than I did during the event. Knowing that our community means so much to so many people.
Our student involvement touches so many lives. It’s one of the most important lessons I’ve learned, and it’s one of the best feelings I’ve had.
I would like to thank Saint Joseph Catholic Church for continuing to provide a location for this awesome event. I would also like to thank Mr. Olson, as well as the Clark County school system for everything they did to help out with everything. It was so amazing seeing teachers, principals, and Superintendent Howard show up.
Getting the chance to sing for the community was one of my favorite choir moments, and I’m very thankful. Thank you to KFC for providing food and Holder Entertainment for the sound systems. Your acts of kindness and contribution helped to make the program a success.
Thank you to the entirety of Winchester for being a place I get the honor to call home, and for showing the true meaning of community. Finally, thank you to the Unity Committee for all that you do and helping with the event, it was very meaningful and appreciated.
The main lesson I learned from the Martin Luther King Unity Breakfast was to come together and persevere.
It’s one I will forever remember, and one I hope others will learn as well. Next year, I would love to see even more people fill the space.
