While Americans will never again abide the terror, hatred and indignities faced by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when he and his comrades marched for civil rights in the 1960s, no one has control over Mother Nature, and on Monday, Jan. 16, she sent single digit temperatures to test the mettle of marchers in the Dr. Martin Luther King Day Parade in Glen Cove. But the cold temperatures and blustery winds did nothing to deter residents from marching in salute to their forebears from the First Baptist Church to the Wunsch Center, decorated with art created by Glen Cove students in Dr. King's honor, where others were gathered for the 22nd annual commemoration in honor of the slain civil rights leader.

Sheryl Goodine, mistress of ceremonies, and chairperson of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Commemorative Commission, opened the ceremonies by calling out "Harambe," an African word meaning "working together in the spirit of unity," an apt description of the spirit of Dr. King. Government and school officials, clergy, and everyday folk were present, and all responded with their promise of harambe.

Rev. Roger Williams of the First Baptist Church gave the invocation, followed by the Glen Cove Police and Girl Scouts of Glen Cove Honor Guards presenting the colors and leading the congregation in the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Glen Cove High School Select Chorale filled the auditorium with renditions of The Star Spangled Banner and Lift Every Voice and Sing, under the direction of Ed Norris.

Mayor Ralph V. Suozzi welcomed everyone to the commemoration, calling the event noteworthy "because 22 years ago, my father, Mayor Vincent "Jimmy" Suozzi, walked an almost identical path to this auditorium with the Chairman Emeritus, Mr. James Davis."

The mayor continued, "As I thought about what I could possibly say today, I realized that my own words were really not needed. In their lifetimes, Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. used their own voices, words and actions to present their ideas to a watching world." He quoted from Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech, encouraging people to seek out the speech to read in its entirety. He followed those words with some of his own.

"Dr. King knew then what we still know today. It is a plain and simple truth that humanity needs help. While he was trying to change the way African-Americans are treated in this country, he was really helping every human being who suffered at the hands of his fellow man. While he was fighting for his own people and teaching them how to stand up to injustice, in hindsight, it is obvious that he was also teaching those who practiced prejudice how to evolve into better human beings."

To the day's theme of "Building on the Dream" Mayor Suozzi said, "Let us build upon the dream by realizing that we are all brothers and sisters and that when we all realize this simple truth, we are suddenly faced with clarity, truth and honor in our lives. We can build on the knowledge that every generation must take responsibility for passing on the true lessons of its times. Every generation must reveal the struggles and efforts and ideas of men like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to each new generation so that these ideas do not lay dormant and die upon the doorstep of history. Each generation must grab the baton of the human race and carry it forward with renewed strength and clarity so that the darkness of our yesterdays shall never overtake the sunshine of our tomorrows. We are building on the dream by being here today as one, in celebration of a man whose message is timeless." The mayor concluded with another quote by Dr. King, "The time is always right to do what is right."

Superintendent of Glen Cove Schools Dr. Larry Aronstein, attending his first Glen Cove Dr. King birthday celebration, evoked personal memories of 1968. "It was a difficult year, a year we came of age, a year that saw the Tet Offensive in Vietnam and the assassinations of Dr. King, and not long after, of Robert Kennedy. I was teaching school at the time and I clearly remember being in the classroom the day after Dr. King was shot and having an open, frank discussion with my class of diverse students. I will never forget the discussions we had, and I hope the students never forget," he said. Dr. Aronstein added that he was very impressed by Glen Cove's celebration, and was proud to be a part of it, "with citizens marching shoulder to shoulder." He said he looks forward to being part of "this marvelous celebration for many years, celebrating, not Dr. King's birth, not his death, but his spirit that lives on."

Following the welcoming remarks, Dana Plummer, secretary of the Martin Luther King Commission, presented awards to the Glen Cove Police, Glen Cove Fire Department and Glen Cove EMS, represented by Chief Timothy Edwards, Chief Dave Spy and Assistant Chief Donald Ellison, respectively. Ms. Goodine reminded all that when Dr. King and his comrades marched in the early days of the civil rights movement, no police were there to protect the marchers.

More music followed, first by the Spotlights, then by Stefan, a singer with the Tones of Joy, who sang a solo musical tribute to Rosa Parks while young children raised "candles of hope." This was followed by a spoken tribute to the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement delivered by Glen Cove High School Assistant Principal Allen Hudson. Ms. Parks' tribute was followed by a video biopic of the life of the Rev. Dr. King produced by the Glen Cove High School advanced TV production class, under the tutelage of Chris Barry.

Cantor Gustavo Gitlin of Congregation Tifereth Israel sang in both Hebrew and English and a dance performance by the Aspiring Young Artists was graceful and moving, as was the music by the Tones of Joy which followed.

But it was the First Baptist Church Mass Choir that ultimately brought down the house. Led by the Rev. Goforth, the choir's passion and joy had the audience on its feet, clapping, filled with the spirit of harambe.

Elder Clarence Johnson, pastor of the First Church of God in Christ, closed the service with a prayer, and led the assemblage in singing We Shall Overcome, the audience standing hand in hand, seemingly ready to march another day to continue building on the dream of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.