It was a bright, but cold morning this past Monday when a number of Choctaw County residents gathered at the walking park on Main Street to begin the commemoration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a parade from the park to the Choctaw County Courthouse.
A number of participants drove the length of the parade while a few robust souls braved the frigid temperatures and walked the parade route.
The service continued in the Courtroom as Nola Bryant welcomed the gathering to a new year and a new decade, and stated God is doing a new thing in a new season, and that the morning's march had echoed through Choctaw County.
Bryant recognized the parade's Grand Marshals, Earlean Fair, Mamie D. Little and Kennie Ashford who were given places of honor on the courtroom platform.
Choctaw County NAACP 1st Vice-President Edgar Miller spoke briefly stating that he was thankful for what King had done for his people and they must continue to fight for justice and equality and to keep the dream alive.
The dance group, Total Praise, presented two selections and Darius Cole performed a dramatic reading of King's I Have a Dream speech.
Bryant was the speaker of the day and entitled her presentation From the Past, To the Present, Into the Future. Bryant stated that King was a man who looked down upon no one, rather he looked to help raise men up and to turn their challenges into opportunities.
She added that only we can limit ourselves and that it is all about character, and asked what we are doing to build our own character.
Bryant stated that King's dream is in the past and it is time for a new dream and asked what is our part in the dream and what do we want our legacy to be.
The service concluded as those gathered stood, held hands and sang We Shall Overcome.
Edgar Miller stated that next year's celebration will be bigger and better and the service was closed with prayer from County Supervisor John Shumaker.
