Port Chester, Rye Brook and Rye Gather for Interfaith Event Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

From the Port Chester School District and the commemoration planning committee [Note: This announcement was updated below to include the time and location]:

On Sunday, January 11, the Port Chester, Rye Brook and Rye communities will come together for an annual commemoration of the life and legacy of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Congregation Kneses Tifereth Israel is hosting this year’s event.

“In the wake of controversy in Ferguson MO, Staten Island and throughout the country, this gathering is especially dear to many community leaders,” said Pastor Jim O’Hanlon of St. Paul’s Church in Rye Brook.

The evening will feature performances by the Port Chester High School Chorus and the Port Chester Middle School Chorus as well as the choir from Girtman Memorial Church. Music also will be provided by St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. The evening will include short readings from the words of Dr. King,

During the proceedings, a 2015 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Committee Humanitarian Award will be presented to David Thomas. Mr. Thomas identified and took steps to restore a heretofore hidden and neglected African American slave cemetery located in Rye, New York. Thanks to his leadership and vision, the site is now clearly marked and fully restored. Through these efforts, he has brought awareness and honor to the memory of those individuals that suffered and survived in America during those difficult times.

The Humanitarian Award is presented annually to individuals who have exhibited traits that symbolize the values of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The criteria are defined by effectiveness, dedication and sacrifice to the community and recipients are selected with great care and consideration.

Attendees to Sunday evening’s Dr. King celebration are asked to bring non-perishable food items that will be distributed to local non-profit organizations who feed the hungry.

Many of the event’s participants have gathered to remember Dr. King for many years and others are new. This year, participants include All Souls Parish Presbyterian Church, Bethel Sounds of Praise, Bethesda Baptist, Christ Episcopal Church, Congregation Kneses Tifereth Israel, Girtman Memorial, Holy Rosary Roman Catholic, Mount Zion Baptist, Rye Presbyterian, St. Frances AME Zion, St. Paul’s Lutheran, and St. Peter’s Episcopal, as well as the Port Chester Chapter of the NAACP and the Port Chester-Rye Union Free School District.

Event information:

2015 Interfaith Commemoration of the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sunday January 11 ▪ 6:00 to 7:15 PM

Congregation Kneses Tifereth Israel

575 King Street, Port Chester NY

Photo: Planners of this year’s Interfaith Commemoration of Dr. King’s legacy are pictured above, left to right. Back row: Back; Dr. Edward Kliszuz, Bishop Robert Girtman, Rev. Bruce Baker, Rev. Hilario Albert, Rev. Stephen Holton, Daniel J. Taylor. Front row: Rev. Gerald Washington, Fr. Timothy Zak, Deacon Billy Vacaro, Sr. Maruja Acusa, Rev. Helen Taylor, Rabbi Jaymee Alpert, Rev. Jim O’Hanlon. Photo credit: Contributed

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