Approximately 150 volunteers including students and staff from ULM, Louisiana Delta Community College, and Ochsner LSU Shreveport Monroe Medical Center showed up Monday morning at the Esther Gallow Community Garden. For Martin Lither King, Jr. Day of Service, nearly every fraternity and sorority from ULM was in attendance, and the work was complete before the actual start time of the event. Volunteers in attendance were excited to work and had fun in the process. Lexington Elementary 2nd grader and my grandson, Phillip Gautreaux, was also on-site. “It was fun helping other people,” Phillip said. He got to help tape vegetable identification signs to stakes and placed several in the 4’ x 8’ garden boxes that ULM's School of Construction put together the previous week.
The process began back on January 5th at the groundbreaking ceremony. Then students and staff tilled the land, laid down a weed barrier, and put down the boxes during the second phase. Monday was the culmination of the project as dirt filled the boxes and mulch was laid to make walking paths in the garden. “It’s just great to see it all come together,” said Esther’s son, Chris Davis. “It has all worked out.”
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Later in the day, the City of Monroe hosted its 43rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Birthday Salute at the WL Jack Howard Theater. The theme for 2022 is “Renewing Our Community Through Service”. Several local individuals were honored with awards that described their service to the community over the years. The event was highlighted by keynote speaker Jon Alston, former NFL player and current writer and editor for the CBS show “S.W.A.T.” Alston explained to those in attendance that “service starts with self so we can better serve others.” He also brought home the point that his service, and that of many in our community and the country, is often through sharing experiences with others. “Storytelling is how I share with the world what I’ve seen.”
The full list of award recipients from the 43rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Salute:
James Sharp, Jr. Justice Award - Judge Benjamin Jones
B.D. Robinson Unity Award - Eddie Clark & Leon Thomas, III (posthumously)
Jamie Mayo Young Leader Award - Coach DJ Davis
Lillie "Granny" Goins Community Service Award - Kenny Wilson
Morris Henry Carroll Education Award - Dr. Brian Bush
W.L. "Jack" Howard Public Service Award - Judge Fred Jones
Nashall Harris Humanitarian Award - MCAL (Monroe City Academy League)
Martin Luther King, Jr. Trailblazer Award - Mackie Freeze
Another memorable event occurred at Louisiana Tech University to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and to kick off Black History Month, "Carrying on the Dream". The University of Louisiana System’s Reginald F. Lewis Scholars partnered with Raising Cane’s to present the traveling exhibit that featured regional civil rights artifacts, a Civil Rights art piece, and screenings of the documentary I am MLK Jr.
Also included in the traveling exhibit is the 1966 Cadillac hearse that carried King’s body to his funeral almost 54 years ago in Memphis that was procured by exhibit sponsor Raising Cain’s CEO Todd Graves in 2018. Todd Graves, founder, and CEO of Raising Cane’s led the preservation of the hearse and, through its exhibit, wants to remind Louisianans what King contributed to society.
“It’s important that the next generation understands how the contributions of Martin Luther King Jr. changed the world,” Graves said. “Many of us did not get a chance to hear MLK during his lifetime, so I am hoping they will be able to appreciate him and his work through this tribute to honor his life.”
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