It was very cold Saturday, the day of the annual Long County Martin Luther King Parade, but residents showed up to support his memory and the cause.

The Blue Tide Band played for the benefit of everyone and the grand marshal was Mother Ruth W. Jones, St. James AME. She was driven by Mrs. Dora Jones.

Before the parade, I went backstage to meet and greet the participants. That’s when I met Noah and Jeremiah, two Long County High School sophomores with the Blue Tide Band. I asked if they were ready, and yes they were ready for the parade. I also had a conversation with four teenage girls riding horses, Asia and Nay Nay, who both rode a black horse, and Shay and LaLa, both on a red horse.

I spoke briefly with Officer Woody, who led the parade out through the streets. He’s a police officer with the Ludowici Police Department. The Ludowici Long County Fire Department also had a fire engine tank truck on the scene. The Community Support Center staff came all the way from Glennville to support the function.

There was a host of churches there: Pastor and Missionary Brewton from Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church; Pastor and First Lady Davis from St. Thomas Missionary Baptist Church; African Episcopal Methodist; Pleasant Hill/St. Phillips Missionary Baptist Church; Greater Historical Elem Missionary Baptist Church; New Hope AME; the list of goes on. Also from Glennville came the King Brothers Funeral Home.

As I went down the street, I met two more young gents, James and Nehemiah. I asked these teenagers if they were enjoying the parade. The youthful spectators said they were enjoying the parade and then went right back to picking up candy. One spectator, walking behind the parade, told me his name was Vision.

The celebration had a number of supporters present. Long County Probate Judge Bobby H. Smith was there and driven by Long County Commission Vice Chairman Clifton DeLoach. I saw the Glennville City Council Ward 1 representative Dorothy Berry, driven by her husband, Barney Berry; and B&B Handymen’s Audrey and Cedric Berry.

Following the parade, the Fellowship in the Park was cancelled because of the cold, and the friendly association was instead held at St. Phillips Missionary Baptist Church. The theme was “Hold Fast to the Dream.”

Presiding Minister Jeannie Worth and the St. James Missionary Baptist Church youth department did the opening song. The beautiful teens I saw earlier riding the horses were four of the songbirds, along with a few others. The welcome was given by Minister Cheryl Berry.

There was a mime selection by Brother Sean Brewton from Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. And the Rev. Hermon Scott from Baconton Missionary Baptist Church, delivered the message, remembering the dream, “when people of all color will come together.”

The Rev. Scott reminded African Americans to teach their children about their heritage and history so they will know and respect the future from understanding and knowing the past. Bobby Hall gave the closing remarks.

Note that this day the younger generation learned a lesson about love and history.