MOSES LAKE — There has been numerous programs in Moses Lake over the years that have honored the legacy and life of Martin Luther King Jr. This year, event organizers are planning on holding their biggest and best celebration to date and want community members to come out and join them as they celebrate King’s life and discuss his impact on the world.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Committee’s annual celebration of Dr. King is set to take place at 6 p.m. Jan. 15 in the Moses Lake Civic Center Auditorium. The event is free for the public to attend and will feature a wide array of different acts, speakers and opportunities to learn about King’s life.

The main speaker for the evening will be Big Bend Community College President Terry Leas. Other speakers include the Rev. Plasido Lindsey, who will be reciting King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, which was given on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

“Another thing happening is that we reached out to the Moses Lake School District and students from grades three through 12 are going to write an essay on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King. And during our program we are going to, for each grade level, award prizes for the first, second and third essay winners,” MLK Committee vice-president Miranda Bridges said.

Other highlights from the program will include musical and dance performances, video clips and a question and answer session with prizes. Everything that people will experience during the program is designed to honor the MLK Committee's theme for this year.

“Our theme this year is ‘speaking the truth in love. We will in all things grow up into Him, who is the head, that is, Christ,’” Bridges explained. “And where we got that from was Ephesians 4:15.”

Bridges also noted that on Jan. 13 the MLK Committee will be having its annual celebration dinner complete with food and entertainment at The Church in Moses Lake, 6378 Arnold Dr. She invited the public to attend the dinner, with tickets priced at $10 for people 11 and over and $5 for people 10 and under.

“All of the proceeds from the dinner will go toward our Dr. King program,” she said.

Bridges encouraged community members to either contact herself, 509-761-1378, or Betty Stells at 509-762-6850 before Jan. 7 to purchase tickets.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.