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Park vigil pays tribute to King
By MICHAEL SANDLER, Times Staff Writer LARGO -- They came out on what felt like the coldest night of the year to help start a tradition in the city of honoring the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Nearly 200 people showed up Wednesday night at Largo Central Park for the city's inaugural Equality For All candlelight vigil in honor of the slain civil rights leader. They read poems and gave speeches. Many quoted King's words. They sang. They clapped. A few made wishes for peace. Most of all, they wished King a happy birthday. "He believed that absolute truth and unconditional love will have the final word," said Ron Pereira, a former president of the Largo Rotary who spoke of King's dedication to peace. Others came forward to praise themes flowing through King's words: freedom, brotherhood, democracy and justice, and love and peace. As they spoke or sang, participants found their own way to honor King. People like Jayne Anne Losito, a city employee who dedicated her rendition of The Rose to King. "I think he would have liked this song," Losito said, before delivering a beautiful solo. Or Andrita King-Fenn, a Largo resident who gave an original speech that called King a role model, a teacher and a warrior. "We will never forget how his marvelous efforts of unification transformed hearts, opened eyes and forced a broken nation to mend together through peace and harmony," she said. "We will never forget Dr. Martin Luther King."
The ceremony, put together in a few days, almost did not happen. Commissioner Charlie Harper suggested in July that the city honor King with a street or celebration. City employees led an unsuccessful attempt to organize a joint celebration on the observed holiday with neighboring Ridgecrest, a community that has celebrated King's legacy for nearly a decade. In December the two groups felt it best to go their separate ways. Harper said the city should hold an event, even if five people show up. But Largo officials decided in December to postpone the first one until 2004. That changed last week when the other city commissioners learned of the failed effort. They read about it in the newspaper. They heard from Rodney Woods, a Largo resident who came forward to encourage the commission to follow Harper's suggestion. Woods even had a street in mind: Central Park Drive. Commissioners decided they wanted a celebration. They instructed their staff to put it together on a week's notice. Now they are considering Wood's suggestion to rename the street in the park after King. "It looks like the city took some time and energy, and provided a great space for the people to come out and hold this vigil," Woods said Wednesday, moments before taking the stage and delivering his version of Battle Hymn of the Republic for the crowd. Some just came out to listen and light candles, like William and Mary Ann Metzger. "I think we owe it to Dr. King to be here," said William Metzger, 72. -- Michael Sandler can be reached at 445-4174 or sandler@sptimes.com . Other King eventsOther Largo-area events honoring King are at 7 p.m. Sunday with a candlelight vigil on the steps of the Ridgecrest YMCA, 1801 119th St. N, Largo. They continue Monday with an 8 a.m. breakfast at Ridgecrest Elementary, 1901 119th St. N, Largo, followed by a march that commences at 10:15 a.m.
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