U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) was the keynote speaker as the City of Alexandria hosted the 51st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Program Jan. 15 at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial.

“Martin Luther King would recognize the honor of this day of service,” Warner said on what would have been the 95th birthday of the Civil Rights icon. “What is more appropriate for a life that was all about service?”

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) delivers remarks at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. memorial program Jan. 15 at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. 

 

First started in 1973 and hosted by Alexandria’s Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Planning Committee, the event celebrated 51 years of honoring the life and legacy of King, which began a decade before President Ronald Reagan signed a bill in 1983 recognizing the birthday of the Civil Rights icon as a national holiday.

The program opened with the traditional Procession of Faiths by clergy representing Alexandria’s faith community.  The gospel choir of Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing” followed by an invocation led by Rabbi David Spinrad of Beth El Hebrew Congregation.

Rosa Byrd was chair of the event that included a panel discussion titled “The Role of Women in the Social Justice Movement with Reflections on the March on Washington Then and Now.” Panelists included activist and historian Brenda Mitchell-Powell, Alexandria Living Legend Lillian Stanton Patterson, Alexandria City High School student Yahney-Marie Sangare and U.S. House of Representatives Deputy Clerk Lisa Grant. The discussion was moderated by Samia Byrd.

Warner, who made several stops throughout the Commonwealth in honor of King, spoke of the theme of an oratorical contest in King’s honor titled “If America is to remain a great nation we must ….”

“I would say that if America is to remain a great nation we must be more respectful of one another,” Warner said. “If America is to remain a great nation it must finally end the scourge of racism. It must honor its word and stand by nations like Ukraine. If America is to remain a great nation we must realize and decide that, quite honestly, there is a lot more that unites us in this room than divides us.”

Musical interludes were provided by The Yellow Door Concert Series Ensemble, the Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church Gospel Choir, soloists Tanya Brown-Randolph and Ira Coats Jr., dancer Shannon Byrdsell, the Howard University Step Team and Alexandria Poet Laureate Zeina Azzam. Anwar Khan of Islamic Relief USA provided reflections.

Mayor Justin Wilson presented a proclamation of appreciation to Derrick Sanders of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial recognizing the day and the significance of the Memorial to the city.

Said Warner in closing, “If America is to remain a great nation we must be willing to fight for our democracy.”