A record crowd gathered Saturday afternoon for Ocean City’s 25th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration.
The Rev. Marcie Sanford of Macedonia Methodist Church in Ocean City gives a scripture reading.More than 300 attended the program at the Hughes Performing Arts Center at Ocean City High School.
In addition to honoring the life and legacy of the civil rights leader in a program of song, scripture and reflections, the program recognized the contributions of former Ocean City Intermediate School teacher Rozelia Wiggins Cobb, who founded the first celebration of Dr. King in Ocean City.
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The increased attendance at Saturday’s event was partially the result of a concerted effort by Councilman Antwan McClellan and Councilman Keith Hartzell to encourage students and community groups to participate.
The winners of an Ocean City Intermediate School essay contest read their winning entries:
- Jared Warrington
- Emily DiMarino
- Andrea Teofanova
- Ava Auwarter
Seven Ocean City High School students and a support staff member were honored for their contributions to the community in the spirit of Dr. King:
- Matthew Catanoso
- Benjamin Fischer
- Enrique Gayatan
- Darby Grant
- Gretchen Keyser
- Christopher Lechner
- Celena White
- Kathy Sykes
And Mayor Jay Gillian gave two awards for public service in the name of Martin Luther King.
The first went to Sally Huff — “one of the kindest and most compassionate people in Ocean City,” Gillian said — who does work for the city and the Chamber of Commerce and who went straight to work helping others in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, even though she lost her own home.
The second was a surprise and went to the Rev. Gregory Johnson of Shiloh Baptist Church.
“I’m proud to call Rev. Greg Johnson my friend,” Gillian said to a round of applause.
“He knows how to get things done, and he is very persistent,” Gillian said of the former school board member and city councilman. “Ocean City is a better place because of him.”
Johnson’s message and recitation of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is the highlight of the annual event.
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He summed up King’s legacy and the spirit of the Ocean City event when he challenged the audience:
“Ask yourself, ‘What have I done to help somebody else?’ ”
