As the nation prepares to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the City of Brotherly love is already doing its part to honor the man who taught our country how to love one another. Tributes to Dr. King began in Philadelphia on Sunday, a day before the national holiday celebrating his birthday.
A color guard salute took place at Haven Peniel United Methodist Church in North Philadelphia in memory of Dr. King. In the choir stand, NBC10 found 82-year-old Kelly Miller. Miller bravely volunteered to take a bus of Philadelphia city workers to the “March on Washington” 50 years ago where Dr. King inspired the nation through his “I Have a Dream” speech.
“I took the money that I was going to put on my house and I put it on the bus,” said Miller.
Parishioners of many ages and races listened to Dr. King’s iconic speech at St. Therese of the Child Jesus Church in Mount Airy earlier today. They then locked hands to show how far our nation has come since Dr. King uttered those famous words.
“He would be proud to know that it has come to where we all can just get along,” said Connie Patrick, a parishioner at the church.
Patrick brought her three children, who look to the face of Dr. King and listen to his words for inspiration in their daily lives.
“I’m consumed by my desire to act for the sake of others and not for myself,” said Alex Patrick.
“We keep his memory alive so that we can live like he lived,” said Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput. “We encourage our country to be faithful to its founding principles.”
