MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake community proved the words of one man can live on and continue to inspire people even decades after they've been spoken.

Dozens of residents gathered at The Church in Moses Lake to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. Monday night. The annual celebration, organized by the Martin Luther King, Jr. committee, has been held in Moses Lake for more than 30 years.

The night included musical performances by choirs from various area churches and the Harambee Children's Theatre, Scripture readings and a recital of the King's "I Have a Dream," speech by the Rev. Plasido Lindsey.

Moses Lake Mayor Dick Deane said he has attended many of the town's previous celebrations. The event is an important tradition, he said.

"Moses Lake is a melding pot of America, all qualities and kinds of people are in the community," Deane said.

King's message of equality can be applied not only across the country, but in Moses Lake as well, he said.

"We are one nation, undivided," said Deane.

The Rev. Murry Bradley, of the Greater Faith Baptist Church in Yakima, was the event's main speaker. Bradley is a former Moses Lake resident, according to organizers.

Bradley said MLK celebrations are a way to commemorate King's life, legacy, and most importantly, his dream.

He mentioned another of King's speeches- a speech he gave in Tennessee shortly before he died. In this speech, King talked about having seen a future where all people lived as equals.

"There was another man who had the same idea, Jesus had that same thought," Bradley said.

He urged attendees to live their lives with that in mind.

MLK committee vice-chair Miranda Bridges summed it up during closing statements when she told the crowd to simply, "continue to have love," for one another.