We had another snowfall that called upon snowplows before the sun even rose, causing the commute for some early birds to be slow and cautious driving their way into work this morning. Considered mild weather by Africa Tarver, the Executive Director of Planning and Development for the City of Hammond, the snow didn’t stop her, or any other Northwest Indiana resident from taking part in 2018’s Annual MLK Candlelight March and Celebration.
The commemoration march to honor Martin Luther King Jr. began at Hammond City Hall at 6:45 this morning and ended at the Hammond Civic Center for the celebration ceremony. Everyone including Executive Director Tarver walked side by side through the snowy street of Calumet Avenue.
Like anyone in attendance, Tarver was walking for a reason – hers being for everything that her family endured during the MLK era in Alabama. She’s been marching with Hammond every year for more than 17 years, not including the years with her family before working with the city.
“I think it’s important for us to remember why we’re marching. It’s not that we’re out here marching just because it’s cold. We march to remember some of the things that transpired to give us the liberties that sometimes we take for granted.”
City of Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott along with United States Senator Joe Donnelly and Congressman Peter J. Visclosky welcomed all who marched into the warmth of the Civic Center to celebrate. McDermott, who has been in office for the last 15 years, hasn’t missed the annual Hammond event with exception to the year that he attended 44th US President Barack Obama’s inauguration.
“I get a pass for that one," stated McDermott, who like many others, came to honor the historic legend that MLK Jr. still is today.
“When we talk about presidency of the United States – Martin Luther King was bigger than that," said McDermott. "He has a bigger place in American History. He’s one of the greatest Americans of all times.”
Hammond, often celebrated for its rich diversity, is one of many places that are going through emerging times. When Senator Donnelly talked about how times are pushing to change, he said, “Hammond is the face of America and the embodiment of Martin Luther King’s dream. Every person has a shot at the dream.” He went on, “When MLK said, ‘We all came here on different ships, but we’re all in the same boat together now,’ that’s here. We are Hammond, Indiana. We are Indiana. We are the United States.”
After Donnelly spoke, Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez, Jr., Councilman Anthony Higgins, and Hammond School Superintendent Dr. Walter Watkins spoke briefly in King’s honor. Performances by the Community Choir and Asia’s Dance Factory, Pastor Orvill Sanders of the Hammond Ministerial Alliance and Vicinity then presented the annual Legacy Awards.
When announcing this year’s Drum Major Legacy award recipient, Orvill cheered, “I’m proud to give this Drum Legacy award to a Hammondite...a Hammondite...a Hammondite!”
Award recipients:
- TLC Daycare’s Grandma Lois – Distinguished Service Award
- Rev. Dr. Shirley Gillespie – Rosa Parks Award
- Mr. Jeffrey Morrow – Drum Major Award
- Mr. Lester Stokes – Good Samaritan Award
“We must never forget the dream.” -Martin Luther King, Jr.