By Carla Santella

This year Martin Luther King Day was celebrated across the United States on Jan. 21. Here in Glen Cove, the march stepped off at 9 a.m. from the First Baptist Church on Continental Avenue. The street was temporarily re-named James Davis Way to honor the memory of one of Glen Cove's strongest civil right's activists, James Davis, who passed away Nov. 13, 2001. The weather was chilly and damp, but the spirit and voices in the air were enough to keep the marchers' hearts warmed. The march went through downtown Glen Cove to the Wunsch Auditorium at Finley Middle School, where there were hundreds more people gathered to sing, listen to speeches, and share just a bit of Dr. King's dream.

Mistress of Ceremonies Sheryl Goodine, who was also instrumental in getting the marchers singing in the (almost) rain, welcomed the congregation and introduced the guest speakers and singers. The Girl Scouts/American Legion Post 1765 brought in the color guard, and the Glen Cove High School Choir, led by Dale Zurbrick, sang The Star Spangled Banner. Glen Cove Mayor Mary Ann Holzkamp spoke, and noted that while she has been attending this celebration for the past 8 years as a council person, it was an even greater honor to be representing the city as its mayor. Dr. Mary Ellen Freeley, superintendent of Glen Cove Schools had missed the program last year, her first year in Glen Cove, due to a prior commitment, but said that the day has already been marked on her calendar for the coming years. Both women spoke of the importance of keeping the life of Dr. King alive for young people of today, and not allowing it to be relegated to history as merely something that happened.

In a lovely inter-generational bit of harmony, Ashanti Douglas, an up-and-coming recording artist from Glen Cove is also the granddaughter of the late James Davis, and the niece of Ms. Goodine, Mr. Davis' daughter. Ms. Douglas read a biography of her grandfather which she called just a "snippet, a Tic-Tac of his life." She then sang a cappella a beautiful version of her grandfather's favorite song, Eye on the Sparrow.

Another youth to make his city proud, Glen Cove High School senior Andrew Liebowitz was in attendance to read his Nassau County first place award-winning essay from the contest open to students of the county every year.

Dale Zurbrick, a Glen Cove High School teacher who is also on the Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. Birthday Commission, was surprised to be given a plaque and a commendation for his 18 years of dedication to the celebration. Mr. Zurbrick has been the musical director every year and is planning on retiring from teaching in June. He was quite impressed that the rest of the committee had been able to keep the award a secret from him, as he had only missed one meeting!

There was a medley of songs performed by The Rocky Road Singers, from the Glen Cove Senior Center, with Eileen Schwartz directing.

The guest speaker was the Rev. Roger C. Williams, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Glen Cove. He stated that he was honored to have been asked to say something about the spirit of Dr. King to an audience that included many people who might have their own remembrances and stories of the great leader. He wondered aloud at what Dr. King's life might be today had he not been assassinated in April of 1968. He spoke of Dr. King's unfinished business in this country, and in a very timely reference, told the listeners that Dr. King had been a fighter for justice for all peoples of the world, that he was a strong proponent of global peace, and that he knew that peace can only come to be when all men respect customs and diversity across the world, and realize that "a mistake was not made in peopling the world." He dared all men to "put down the mantle of difference and stand together."

The service ended as all participants stood together to sing, We Shall Overcome, many voices knowing the song well, as though they have sung it many, many times.