TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) -- Organizers say that for the past twenty-six years the annual King Commemorative Service has featured a lot of things, including great music. Sunday's event was no exception.
The overall theme this year is "Seeking Love, Compassion, Respect and Racial Harmony for All People."
The roster of guests and honorees reflected that theme.
The guest speaker was Juanita Gambrell Floyd of the the Create Foundation.
She told her story of struggle to get where she is now and how living through King's creed changed her life for the better.
"He wanted all people to love one another," said Floyd. "That was a dream of his. Another dream was to vote. He wanted all of us to go to the polls and vote in our local races. Another dream was the value of an education."
Local activist Mack Turner was honored with this year's Drum Major Award for his efforts to help the homeless in the community.
"It's wonderful, you know. Psalms 33:1 [says] 'How good, how pleasant it is when brothers can dwell together in unity.' And today, I felt it," Turner said.
There did appear to be a spirit of unity as the audience and everyone onstage held hands as a show of peace, a symbol of the togetherness King preached during his lifetime.
Members of the audience as well as the Committee for King and Tupelo city organizers said they felt there was an air of racial harmony throughout the program.
"I think that has been the theme for many years and it's a classic theme. I think King's legacy speaks to that theme. It's just in keeping with his legacy and it's what we're called to do," said committee member Shawn Brevard.
"What we've been encouraged to do was to all become servants and try to improve our communities, help our people," said Rev. William Shack, Committee for King chairman.
"It was wonderful. It just brought tears to my eyes," said a smiling Cindy Howard of Tupelo.
The fellowship continued afterward with food in the school cafeteria.
The Committee for King will conclude its activities Monday with a motorcade and birthday celebration.
The motorcade will start at the VF Mall in Tupelo at 11:00 a.m.
