47th Annual Rev. Dr. King Birthday Celebration

By Jennifer L. Warren

BEACON – To Congressman, Pat Ryan, Monday’s brilliant blue, stunningly sunny, mid-January skies were a truly symbolic metaphor for the day’s occasion.

“It is such a heavy moment we are in right now,” said Ryan to the large crowd inside of Beacon’s Springfield Baptist Church. “I’m very grateful the sun made its way out and the leaders of this event decided to continue, as it’s a metaphor for this Martin Luther King Day, one that is especially important, with what’s happening now in the world transcending the political and going to the moral.

Alluding to the recent events in Minneapolis, other invasively violent-inhumane actions blanketing our country’s landscape, the potential ICE Center being discussed coming to the Hudson Valley, as well as last year’s devastating food benefit cuts and this year’s incredulous trillion dollar health insurance blow, Ryan countered the “dark,” with some light, delineating King’s two leadership pearls: fighting, coupled with caring.
“As Martin Luther King reminds us, you can’t have one alone; you must pair them,” said Ryan. “This moment calls for all of us to lean in and answer this darkness with that fight and care.”

Actions rippling with those necessities for change could be spotted at 8 Mattie Cooper Square, inside and outside of Springfield Baptist Church Monday at the Annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 47th Annual Birthday Celebration on what would have been his 97th birthday. Whether it was enduring the 20 degree temperatures, hoisting up impressive-sized, colorful signs, promoting justice, hope, love and peace while chanting unifying melodies and joyfully traversing two blocks at the 11th Annual, Pete Seeger-inspired, community cementing MLK Parade or creating lasting, meaningful bonds inside, celebrating Beacon School District MLK Essay Winners and adult honorees or listening into the inspiring words on the potency of dreams by the Celebration Preacher, all who were impacted by the positivity, togetherness and hope of the four hour celebration walked away better for-invigorated by the moving experience.

“I feel Dr. King’s Dream is alive here in Beacon; he did not leave us with a legacy of fear, but rather courage and love,” said Legislator, Yvette Valdes Smith. “He would have been in this moment with us, leading the charge; we are keeping the embodiment of his spirit alive here today.”

That indomitable spirit shone through in the six essay contest winners, who were each awarded special plaques and a $50 monetary reward for their insightful and articulate remarks on keeping King’s Dream alive. Challenged with this year’s MLK quote, “We must use time creatively in the knowledge that the time is always right to do right,” essay contestants not only interpreted its timeless meaning but elaborated upon how they personally would apply that wisdom to their lives, making the world a better place. Each recipient read excerpts of their essays, clearly revealing King’s ongoing imprint on the youth.

In addition, adults carrying the bright torch, sparked by MLK, were honored for the indelible footprints of love, hope, peace, justice and positivity they have left on their communities. This year’s 2026 MLK, Jr. Day Celebration Honorees included; Larry Clark, Junior Dabashi, Tony Trigonis and Anthony Moustkas of the 84 Diner, Gahiji Manderson, L’Quette Taylor and Ruth E. Anderson. Each a trailblazer whose work is a living example of the vision King had for this world.

The long-standing, community cornerstone MLK event, whose pioneers’ four women history traces back to 1977 and group would eventually emerge as the Southern Dutchess Coalition, was also deeply honored, brimming with pride to have its inaugural female Celebration Preacher, an over 40 year, devoted Springfield Baptist Church member, Reverend Barbara Williams. As with each speaker, Williams carried the spirit of King in her heart, reverberating all of her powerful words on the priceless nature of cherishing one’s dreams and the faith they require.

“Dreams do not start with us but with God; the power lies not just in having a dream but in faith,” the passionate Reverend Williams, told her listeners. “We are reminded on this Martin Luther King Day that dreams do not die with the dreamer, but they are about people who continued to press forward even when the world said to give up; as long as you are alive, you can dream and fulfill them.” Reflecting further on the timeless nature of the lessons left behind by Dr. King as well as his lingering fuel to continue to dream, Reverend Williams, challenged all in attendance to reflect upon King’s Dream as well as their own, adding, “Dr. King’s words still ring true today, not to comfort but to confront us; your dream is alive and powerful, God gave the dream, and now watch him fix it.”

At the Program’s conclusion, in her Benediction, Reverend Williams, again pointing to the present day relevance of the man being honored, reminded all in attendance of King’s overriding, recurring, and still very applicable mantra, surfacing in everything he so eloquently said and compassionately did-accomplished during his life.

“It was all about love.”