Martin Luther King Day is Celebrated;
Far East Kiwanis Club Hosts Annual Prayer Breakfast In Washington, DC
by Doris Montgomery, District Trustee, Potomac Region & Bob Cressy, Past Capital District Governor

The month of January is always filled with thoughts of the beginning of a new year, a new dedication to thinking positively, to planning to do better, to helping others. Perhaps in short our goals are found in our mission statement: "Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time".

In a very well organized celebration of Martin Luther King's Life, the Kiwanis Club of Far East again hosted the annual program at St. Luke's Catholic Church, Washington, DC. The Keynote Speaker, Reverend Doctor L. Allen Bridges, Tabernacle Baptist Church, spoke eloquently and to the point. "Every third Monday of January now we gather to honor the life of Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King. It would be easy just to do nothing this day, not to celebrate, but we do celebrate. We live Dr. King's words to not judge people by the color of their skin but by the content of their character". (Pictured The Dor-Montes Day Care Kids: Now some folks have trouble trying to recite our mission Kiwanis statement by memory. These three to six year olds have the lyrics of song after song by heart. Absolutely charming!)

I'm paraphrasing accurately, and Rev. Bridges further said "Look at what God has given you. There are people in this city who are hungry, who need decent housing. Schools are a mess. We have work to do. Our work and our journey has just begun. Where are we going? Today is a part of the dream. … Ask where will I go from here, where will I take my neighborhood, where will I take my nation. Embrace the diversity of our world."

The program included music by the East of the River Steel Band, a buffet breakfast, story teller Mrs. Marian Hymes with 'Sojourner Truth', prayers for the nation and some of the children of the Dor-Montes Day Care center singing songs of praise. These three to five or six year olds are simply marvelous. All knew their verses. They're certainly not shy and Doris Montgomery directs them beautifully. You need to see and hear them. (Pictured Doris Montgomery, newly elected District Trustee from the Potomac Region, annual brings the program a special treat with the young children singers from the Dor-Montes Day Care center.)

The day was capped by the traditional hymn "We shall overcome" with all standing and holding hands. The benediction closed the ceremony with reverent spirit. Celebrate!