The first ever Black History Month celebration in Elmont was held at the Clara H. Carlson School as numerous community members gathered in the auditorium to honor the contributions black Americans have made to society. The guest of honor was civic leader Livingston Chrichlow, who was presented with the 21st Assembly District Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. award by Assemblyman Tom Alfano and the Dr. Carter G. Woodson Black History Month Award for his community service.

The event was sponsored by the Elmont Community Awareness Program (ECAP), an organization devoted to assuring that information about community activities is made available to the widest possible audience, and Elmont Online, which provides the community with a website. The two organizations serve as proof that residents can make a difference in their communities.

Representing the organization were Elmont School Board president and one of the founding members of Elmont Online, Aubrey Phillips and ECAP Director Cheryl Lee, who both accepted a proclamation from Senator David A. Patterson of the 30th District.

Both Mr. Phillips and Ms. Lee, with the help of their fellow residents, have helped to make positive changes in their communities as ECAP and Elmont Online have become important resources and mainstays in the community.

Students from the Gotham Avenue School and Mr. Terence Lewis kicked off the day's festivities. Mr. Lewis recited a sermon, "The Drum Major Instinct," made by Dr. King in 1968.

In the sermon, Dr. King stresses what he believed was important in life. "If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. Say that I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter. I won't have any money to leave behind. I won't have the fine and luxurious things in life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind. And that's all I want to say. If I can help somebody as I pass along, if I can cheer somebody with a word or song, if I can show somebody he is traveling wrong, then my living will not be in vain," Mr. Lewis said to the audience, reciting Dr. King's sermon.

The children from the Elmont School District and students from the Elmont Memorial High School Chorus performed for the audience. Lee Riley read the Maya Angelou poem, Song for the Old Ones.

Assemblyman Alfano then presented the 21st Assembly District Martin Luther King Jr. Award to Mr. Chrichlow, who has lived in Elmont since 1975.

Mr. Chrichlow is a current member of the Parkhurst Civic Association, serving as its president for 12 years. He was a member of the Steering Committee for Elmont Community Day '95 and Elmont Community Week '97. He was a member of the Elmont Civilian Patrol and the Elementary School Health and Safety Committee. Mr. Chrichlow was also active in Boy Scouts and the Lutheran church.

Perhaps nobody would have been gathered last Sunday to celebrate the contributions black Americans have made to this country if it weren't for Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who devoted his efforts to black history.

In 1915, Dr. Woodson established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now called the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History). A year later, he founded the Journal of Negro History and in 1926, he launched Negro History Week in an effort to bring national attention to the contributions of black Americans.

Mr. Chrichlow, who has made significant contributions to his community, was awarded the Dr. Carter G. Woodson Black History Month Award. He accepted the award from Mr. Phillips and Superintendent of Schools for the Elmont School District Dr. Maria Palandra.

For Mr. Chrichlow, receiving two awards named after two great Americans was an honor. "It sort of humbles one. What they did in their lifetimes, it's hard to figure that someone can replicate it, but I'm very pleased to be able to receive the awards," he said.

Mr. Chrichlow echoed the sentiments of all those gathered about the importance of commemorating black history. "I think it's important for the whole community because it gives everybody the opportunity to just pause and do a little thinking about the fact that there is a lot of history that everyone may not be fully aware of. Here's a chance to dig into a history that makes up the total American history," he said. "Here in Elmont, we have a United Nations of people and we should be able to learn and know about the history of it all because it all blends into the American history."

Perhaps Elmont has set an example for all communities. With a school system with over 70 languages spoken and a community with numerous civic associations and other organizations, the residents within the community work together. "We have a United Nations right here in our school system and they interact very well," Mr. Chrichlow said.