Due to the snow storm and snow removal there will be no parking on Main Street Until Further Notice
From the Mayor’s Office
January 16, 2023
“Do Something”
Celebrating the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The following speech was read by Mayor Newhard on January 16, 2023, at the Union AME Church Celebration of the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. –
Good morning, Pastor Posey, Reverend Pierce, Union Family, friends, invited guests. It’s a pleasure to be here with you today as we celebrate the life of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.
Let us remember too, that today is a birthday! It is a celebration of words, action, and leadership. The theme for today’s celebration “Do Something” is timely. Not only does it describe a life of civil action and activism by Reverend King but also a template for what we should be following in our own lives.
It has become clear to me over time that there is much to be understood and reckoned with in the face of the true justice of race, sexuality, and creed. When we look at Dr. King’s life, listen to his message and understand his actions, it is transferable to us today. Yes, we have seen change and progress but the threads of prejudice, hate, mistrust and lack of equity remain. Sometimes not apparent, they can exist undetectable like a minefield just below the surface of a peaceful landscape. When it erupts, it becomes painfully apparent that we have not seen clearly or done enough.
Maybe the greatest gift we can give to Dr. King is to emulate and perform in our lives the inspiration and spiritual conviction that sparked a revolution. It is in the doing. It’s in the daily vigilance, empathy, questioning and seeing the world through a different lens that puts aside ego and self-righteousness and that searches for clarity, honesty and above all love.
Dr. King charges us to understand that we each can be powerful in our ability to act and the importance to demonstrate this in our daily lives. He has given us a mission as disciples of change. Together as a community we must continually re-access ourselves, reimagine ourselves and it is through acts of humanity that we are able to forge a future built upon the blueprint of a remarkable dream, by a remarkable architect. A man of humility and grace.
Thank you, Dr. King, and Happy Birthday to you!
The next Village Board meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall, 77 Main Street.
