This year members of the community are prepared once again to celebrate the memory and message of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The event is set for Monday, Jan. 19, beginning at Picayune’s City Hall at about 10 a.m.
Event Chairperson Etta Scott said the march will head from City Hall down Goodyear Boulevard before turning right onto Main Street and turn right onto Rosa Street towards Beech Street where the route will turn right and head down to Rose of Sharon Church of God in Christ, where the program will take place.
Parade Coordinator Ozie Turner said this year’s program will feature a speaker and presentations from local youth. Turner said the children will give presentations on what the day means to them.
Scott said this year’s speaker will be the Rev. Kenneth Thomas from New Hebron Baptist Church in Carriere.
The program after the march is expected to last about an hour and 45 minutes, Scott said.
“I hope as many people as possible can come to make it a nice day,” Turner said.
The grand marshal of this year’s event will be Constance Doby, who is a member of St. James Methodist Church.
A number of community members are expected to be involved in the march, including members from the local NJROTC, school bands, police department, sheriff’s department and members from neighboring churches, Turner said. Everyone is invited to participate in the march. While there is no charge, Turner asks those who are interested in participating to contact her at 601-798-3506 so she can make the necessary preparations.
Participants are asked to bring a canned food item, which will be donated to Manna Ministries. Turner said last year the event collected about 200 cans of food.
To avoid walking the route twice, transportation will be offered from Rose of Sharon Church of God in Christ to City Hall. Transportation to City Hall will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at about 9:15 a.m.
Participants are asked to start lining up at 9:15 a.m.
This year’s theme is “Honoring the past and preserving the future.”