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Sunday, January 26, 2014

2014 MLK Day in Kingsport: A Candlelight Vigil to Honor the King


"THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE.... I'M GONNA LET IT SHINE."


A mainstay of the celebration of the life of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in most cities around the country, is the candlelight vigil.

Kingsport was no exception, as the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Candlelight Vigil was held at the Shiloh Baptist Church.

Click here to hear a video interview by WJHL-TV with New Vision Youth Director Johnnie Mae Swagerty about the 2014 MLK Candlelight Vigil in Kingsport.

It is during that time that people of business, government, religion, and education come together in a spirit of community. Symbolically, they light candles to honor the man who sparked the Civil Rights movement.

It is a solemn occasion, as the candles are lit and remembrances are put into words, as the flames of equality and justice blaze away into the rapidly descending dusk.

Click here to hear more of the WJHL-TV interview with Johnnie Mae Swagerty about the variety of people represented at the Candlelight Vigil.

This year's Candlelight Vigil began with the opening prayer given by the Reverend Kenneth Chad Roberts with the Christ Preaching Church, and the Scripture lesson by Taslin Coward with the New Vision Youth.




The lighting of candles were as follows:

Miles Burdine, representing the Downtown Kingsport Association and the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce....

Rev. Kenneth Calvert, with the Kingsport Ministerial Alliance....

Mayor Dennis Phillips, representing the city of Kingsport and the Board of Mayor and Aldermen....

Angel Blye representing the Kitchen of Hope....

Retired Master Sergeant Combat Nurse Sinora Lewis, representing the United States Army Medical Corps....

Mrs. Betsy Cooper, representing the Kingsport Board of Education....

Captain Dimingo Hale, representing the United States Armed Forces....

Mrs. Linda Calvert, on behalf of Terry Cunningham, representing the Kingsport Housing Authority....

And.. Ms. Jaquetta Hale, parent representative for the New Vision Youth.




A SLIDESHOW OF THE CANDLELIGHT VIGIL IS BELOW


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"EVERYWHERE I GO, I'M GONNA LET IT SHINE.. LET IT SHINE, LET IT SHINE... LET IT SHINE."