Audience urged to act as example to children, community service awards presented at annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration

Editor's note: The story has been changed from its original version in order to reflect former state representative Mary Kasten's correct title.

The Rev. Alice M. Rogan of Pulaski, Illinois, leads a hymn before presenting the keynote address for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration Sunday at St. James AME Church. (Fred Lynch)

At Sunday's 25th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration at St. James AME Church, the music suddenly cut off amid the announcement of the second recipient for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award.

This is because the recipient was longtime pianist and fine arts educator Altha Robinson.

"I'm so grateful. I will always cherish this moment," Robinson said after receiving her award.

Robinson has worked with both Sikeston, Missouri, and Cape Girardeau schools teaching fine arts, and when asked how long she had been doing so she replied, "It seems like all my life."

The first award was given to former state representative Mary Kasten. Debra Mitchell-Braxton lead the celebration, and when announcing Kasten she described a woman who has been active for decades not only in the community, but at the state level as well; a woman who judges people not on the color of their skin, but by their character; and a person who is filled with faith, and continues to be a foot-soldier in spreading the word of God.

More than 60 people gathered at St. James to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and honor the 52nd anniversary of the March on Washington and King's "I Have a Dream" speech. The keynote speaker at this year's event was the Rev. Alice M. Rogan.

Rogan traveled to Cape Girardeau with her husband, Dean L. Rogan Sr., from Pulaski, Illinois.

Altha Robinson, left, receives a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award from Debra Mitchell-Braxton Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015 at St. James AME Church in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

The Rogan has been preaching since 1991. She's traveled to Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Michigan, South Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Kenya and Uganda in order to spread God's word.

Dean Rogan is the mayor of Pulaski. The two have been married for 47 years and together own Rogan's Country Pharmacy. Alice Rogan manages Creative Hands Christian Emporium and has interpreted for the deaf at St. John Praise and Worship Center in Pulaski for more than 15 years.

In 2001, the Alexander-Pulaski Branch of the NAACP awarded the couple with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award. Alice Rogan recently retired after four and a half years of teaching sign language at Shawnee Community College in Ullin, Illinois.

In her speech, Rogan compared King to Joshua, the successor to Moses in the Old Testament.

Mary Kasten walks up the aisle escorted by Fred Pennington to accept a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015 at St. James AME Church in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

"Joshua was Moses' servant, a leader, second in command to Moses," Rogan said. "Joshua was to complete the job that Moses started with God, and we are to complete the job Dr. King started."

The overall message of the celebration was to question what audience members were doing for others, and to encourage them to move forward in their calling by Jesus Christ.

Rogan spoke of the problem surrounding younger generations, saying children and young adults don't know God, that they live by their own rules. However, she did not point blame at anyone, but said it was the congregation's responsibility to set an example for children and guide them, to stop their way of thinking that "the world owes them a living."

"They don't know the history that gave them a voice," she said. "... We have made progress in many areas, but we are still not living the dream."

Rogan compared today's generation as playing a game, but not knowing a coach is watching, and she assured the audience before her that a coach was there.

"Dr. King was a living example of the love of God," Rogan said. "This love cost him his life, but the love still remains."

smaue@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

516 North Street, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

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Events to attend in relation to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., City Wide Celebration Committee:

*30th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., memorial breakfast begins at 8 a.m. at the Salvation Army, 701 Good Hope St. - In lieu of admission fee, attendees are asked to donate a non-perishable food item, canned goods, toiletries or school supplies.

*Prayers for our nation 11:30 - noon at Salvation army

*14th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Luncheon at noon at the Salvation Army.

*19th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. youth gala at 4 p.m. at West Park Shopping Mall at JC Penny Center Court.