10th Martin Luther King Day Breakfast is Monday
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Monday's 10th annual Martin Luther King Day Breakfast is a local celebration during a day designed to reflect on peace for all, according to organizer Charlotte Taborn.
Taborn proposed the idea for a Martin Luther King Day observance upon the urging of her cousin, Linda Williams, of Michigan, whose church held a program.
"She said, 'You ought to do something like that in Harrisburg,'" Taborn said.
Taborn proposed the idea to Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church.
"We did it because all the other churches were doing Martin Luther King Day, but nobody else in Harrisburg was doing anything," Taborn said.
She, Patricia Hodge, the church's then-pastor and other members made the idea a reality.
Breakfast begins 7:30 a.m. and lasts until 10:15 a.m. at the Harris-Pruett Building. The program begins 10:30 a.m.
Dr. Alexander Garnett is the featured speaker. Garnett is a former department of corrections employee who received his associates of arts degree from Southeastern Illinois College in 1966, his bachelor of science degree from Southern Illinois University in 1968, master of science from SIU in 1971 and doctorate of rehabilitation degree from SIU in 2000.
The program also features gospel singing with solo performances, a welcome by Mayor Eric Gregg and Gregg's signing of a proclamation in honor of the day.
This year's theme is "With Faith We Are Going to Make It."
Taborn invites all to share in Dr. King's message.
"Martin Luther King was not only for blacks; he was for everyone, harmony and peace for everybody," Taborn said.
Taborn said she hopes in 2013 for the proceeds from the breakfast to benefit a scholarship program.
"Because the youth will be our future, the next generation when the rest of us are dead and gone," she said.
The $5 price pays for a breakfast of bacon, eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, fruit and a drink and carry-out is available.
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DeNeal receives e-mail at bdeneal@yourclearwave.com.</li>
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