This year marks the 27th Anniversary of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday. However, for the past 44 years, the St. Louis Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Committee has sponsored an annual downtown march and interfaith service on the slain leader’s birthday to honor his work in the civil rights arena.
This year’s march will celebrate the second term inauguration of President Barack Obama which is also taking place on Monday, January 21.
The event starts at 10 a.m. with a Civic Ceremony at the Old Court House Rotunda, 4th and Market Streets. At 11 a.m. there will be a Celebration Inaugural March to Powell Hall, followed at 12:30 p.m. by an Interfaith Celebration.
As in years past, the 2013 event in St. Louis will feature comments from Mayor Francis G. Slay as well as other local and state elected officials and civic leaders. This year’s keynote speaker during the interfaith celebration service will be the Rev. Earl Nance Jr., pastor of Greater Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church.
Also during the interfaith service, several community leaders will receive special Martin Luther King Jr. awards.
The St. Louis event is one of the oldest and second largest King Day celebrations in the country. Organizers consider it to be a day on-not a day off. The local committee was responsible for getting Easton Avenue in the city of St. Louis changed to Dr. Martin Luther King Drive.
Special Commemorative Celebration buttons are available by calling 314-583-0532, 314-769-1211 or 314-458-6906.
