Manchester Celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a day intended to commemorate the struggle for equality around the world and those who continue that fight to this day. 

Monday, the town celebrated its 26th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event with a ceremony at the Manchester High School Auditorium. The ceremony recognized students, teachers, and community organizations who give back to the Manchester community in many different ways.

This year community agencies and schools were asked to consider a quote before deciding who would receive the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award: “Somewhere along the way, we must learn that there is nothing greater than to do something for others.”

This was the quote teachers, students and community members considered when joining together to decide who was to be recognized for their positive contribution to society.

Joining in the celebration this year was State Troubadour Lara Herscovitch, a celebrated musician and songwriter who has made contributions to equality and social justice around the world.

The ceremony marked the debut of her music video inspired by King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” Herscovitch’s interpretation depicted the torments that poverty inflicts on every walk of life.

Herscovitch spoke about the atrocities that occur around the world each day, from the lack of clean water in some countries to the HIV/Aids epidemic in others, touching on many controversial subjects and social injustices. The influence of King was reiterated as her words of inspiration drew to a close and Herscovitch proclaimed, “I don’t believe we have the opportunity to help other people, we have the obligation.”

Following Herscovitch’s keynote address, the Manchester High School Jazz Ensemble played two beautiful pieces in commemoration of King. The smooth bass and playful melody set the harmonious mood and left the audience with a sense of unity.

The final musical interlude of the evening was a performance of the 2010 International Barbershop Chorus Competition, Swedish Match. While on their two week United States tour from Stockholm, the quartet showed their support in the fight against social injustice and commemorated King with a catchy tune about smiling through adversity.

Between the music, students, teachers and community members were recognized for their contributions to the local community. Students were recognized for everything from helping class members figure out tough homework problems to stopping their fellow classmates from bullying others.

Student groups were recognized as well. Helping Hands, a student group from Highland Elementary, melts down crayons and turns them into candles to sell, donating 100 percent of the proceeds to the American Cancer Society.

The Town of Manchester Recreation Department received one of the Community Member Awards not only for the recreational activities they provide for the town, but also for the way that each member tries to reach out individually and give back.

Town officials stressed that the night was intended to exemplify the idea of giving back and helping one another.  In the words of the venerable King, “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”