MLK observances planned in Sikeston

SIKESTON, Mo. -- "Hope Is Not Just a Dream" will be the theme to this year's Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration and Motorcade Parade in Sikeston.

It was chosen to reinforce that King's dream isn't something to wait on but a goal to work toward, said Michael Harris, Sikeston King Day Planning Committee member.

The 26th annual will be Monday at the West End Missionary Baptist Church, 1004 Maude Street.

"There is something required in order to obtain that dream," Harris said. "You can't just sit back and hope things change -- you have to get involved in community service and civic activities, even get more involved in our local churches."

The federal holiday celebrating King's Jan. 15 birthday is observed as a floating holiday on the third Monday of January each year.

Sikeston's observance will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday this year with a musical celebration featuring local vocalists and choirs, including the Community Choir, at the Green Memorial Church of God in Christ.

The annual motorcade parade will depart at 11 a.m. Monday from the West End Missionary Baptist Church, at the corner of Osage and Young. Parade participants are asked to be at the church by 10:30 a.m.

The parade will begin by going west on Osage to Alabama where it will turn north. The parade will then head east on West North Street until it reaches North West Street where it will continue north to Salcedo Road. At Salcedo the parade will travel eastward then turn south on Main Street, following Main all the way to Murray Lane.

The parade will follow Murray Lane west until Jaycee Street, then north on Jaycee to West Malone. At West Malone the parade will travel east to Sunset Drive, take Sunset north back to West North Street where it will go east to get back to Young Street, making a final turn south to end back at the West End Missionary Baptist Church.

The Martin Luther King Jr. program is scheduled to begin at noon Monday with pastor Jeff Posegate giving the invocation for the day, pastor Nathaniel Green speaking the purpose of the occasion and end with keynote speaker the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Holloway, Harris said.

Holloway is a St. Louis native with over 40 years of service in the ministry. Currently serving as the pastor of the Pilgrim's Rest Missionary Baptist Church of Lilbourn, Mo., he has shared during previous MLK Day celebrations in Sikeston how the assassination of King was a life-changing experience for him.

Harris said the program will also honor those serving the country in the military and make some special presentations to individuals for their community service.

Refreshments provided by the Daughters of Sunset will be in the church's fellowship hall.

Pertinent address:

1004 Maude St., Sikeston, MO