By MADDY VITALE
Each year, Rev. Gregory Johnson delivers Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous speech, “I Have a Dream.”
And each year, it is just as moving as the last.
Johnson slowly walked from the back of the Ocean City Tabernacle on Monday, his voice resonating and building as he engaged the audience along the way.
Once on the stage, Johnson delivered a powerful rendition of the speech and then the audience sang along with him to “We Shall Overcome.”
Ocean City’s celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. brought the community together for songs, reflection and the recognition of students for essays about MLK and a ceremony honoring two people who stand out for their contributions to the community.
(Video courtesy of Martin Fiedler of Just Right TV Productions)
At the start of the program, Ocean City Tabernacle Pastor Jay Reimer gave opening remarks.
“We celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. for reminding us, the society and the churches, that all people have the same value in God’s eyes and we need to stand for that,” he said.
Among other highlights of the program were ceremonies for recipients of the Martin Luther King Community Services Awards, Jane French and Bill McMahon III, and students reading their award-winning essays on Martin Luther King.
The Community Service Award is given out each year to recognize volunteer activity and service to the Ocean City community.
Mayor Jay Gillian spoke about each recipient prior to giving them ceremonial keys to the city along with other gifts for their service
He said selecting both recipients was “easy.”
French is a member of the Quilts of Valor Foundation, a lifelong volunteer who helps out at many Ocean City events and worked for many years alongside the resort’s acclaimed late public relations director Mark Soifer. She also served on the Ocean City Ecumenical Council and the Ocean City Tabernacle board.
“Jane French has loved Ocean City for all of her life. Her lifetime of volunteering has touched so many parts of Ocean City from churches to veterans, to local families,” Gillian said. “We are grateful for everything Jane does for Ocean City and we are proud to present this.”
Choking back her emotions, French said that she was blessed to be adopted by a family who spent time in Ocean City.
She spoke of how highly she regarded Mark Soifer and said that he is rightly credited for all the great events and activities that are still a big part of Ocean City today. She also said she felt honored and blessed to receive the award.
The second recipient, Bill McMahon, who owns McMahon Insurance Agency in town, is also the president of the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce.
But the reason he received the award was for his volunteerism, namely, raising $200,000 to date for the Covenant House in Atlantic City. In addition, he serves on several boards, including Atlantic Cape Community College, and has helped to raise funds for scholarships.
Gillian said that like French, McMahon “is a deserving recipient” for all of the volunteering he does.
McMahon said he was humbled by the honor. He also gave the audience some advice.
“I just said yes. Just say yes to people. Lots of good things happen and you get put on boards when you raise money. Find the causes that you believe in and great things happen,” he said.
Members of City Council, county and state dignitaries filled the stage. Among them were Assemblyman Antwan McClellan, of Ocean City, Assemblyman Erik Simonsen, Cape May County Surrogate E. Marie Hayes, of Ocean City, Cape May County Commissioner Bob Barr, of Ocean City, and Interim Superintendent of Schools Terry Crowley Sr.
McClellan, Simonsen and Barr presented proclamations to the award recipients.
During the ceremony, Ocean City Intermediate School students read their award-winning essays about Dr. King.
Intermediate School Principal Mike Mattina said a few words about the students and the difficult task it was to choose the best essays out of many. Two essays each were chosen from the seventh and eighth grade classes.
Caroline Bickings, Marley Dwyer, Ava Clevenger and Noelle Nnewihe were the essay winners. Noelle could not attend.
“The kids get really excited about these essays and getting a chance to honor Dr. King up here, in front of all of you,” Mattina said. “If you know anything about the Ocean City students, there are a lot of smart students, talented students, so it was very hard to dwindle it down to four.”
In addition, speakers included Rev. Marcia Stanford who gave a strong closing prayer and blessing.
The event, which was emceed by Michael Allegretto, aide to the mayor, was followed by a complimentary soul food buffet luncheon in the Tabernacle.
Earlier in the day, volunteers were invited to join in a nationwide Day of Service in honor of Dr. King’s contributions. Residents participated in a citywide cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon.
