On the eve of a national holiday to honor the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., members of the Elon University community gathered Sunday evening for an intimate candlelight ceremony in which guests shared stories of how the slain civil rights leader's message touches them today.
The evening program in Whitley Auditorium drew an audience of about 75 people, from students to faculty to local residents. Originally planned for the Academic Village Plaza, forecasted drizzle forced the ceremony indoors.
Chet Denlinger, Elon University’s Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life chaplaincy intern, and Elon First Baptist Church’s Pastor Keith McDaniel co-led the event, billed as an opportunity for celebrants to share memories of King’s legacy, pray for the community and nation, and commemorate his vision for the future.
Lawerence Slade, an alderman for the town of Elon, and university senior Alison Brooks, an environmental studies major and Periclean Scholar, offered planned remarks before opening the podium to audience members.
“He was a man for all people,” Slade said. “He wasn’t just for one nationality, he was for the world. He wanted to bring peace to the whole wide world. … And he opened up a lot of doors for all people.”
Brooks explained how King did more than advocate for equality in the face of violence and adversity. He stood as an example for how others could approach their own lives. “The memory of Dr. King serves not just as inspiration, but as a challenge,” she said, “a challenge to figure out what our purpose in life is.”
Elon’s Gospel Choir also made an appearance, with renditions of “This Little Light of Mine,” “Amazing Grace” and “We Shall Overcome” closing the program.
The candlelight ceremony was part of a weeklong series of events on campus to commemorate King’s life. The theme of this year’s events is “His Past. Your Future. One Dream.” and the series concludes Monday with a “Day of Service” in cooperation with Elon First Baptist Church.