Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Includes Day of Service, Music, Literary Arts Awards
Posted 12/27/2010

The Musical Celebration and Tribute is SOLD OUT.

Gaithersburg is proud to once again partner with Montgomery County, Takoma Park and Garrett Park for a day of service and tribute in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, January 17, 2011. 

For the nineteenth year the City of Gaithersburg and the Gazette Newspaper are sponsoring the Martin Luther King Jr. Literary Arts Contest for Gaithersburg area students.  This year 76 students addressed the theme, “Continuing the Legacy: How Will You Serve?”  Members of the City’s Multicultural Affairs and Educational Enrichment Committees and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Commemorative Committee selected the three winners who will read their essays at the County celebration on January 17 and at the Gaithersburg Mayor and City Council meeting on January 18.  The winners are Skyler Thiessen and Sofia Vallone, 5th graders at Gaithersburg Elementary School, and Thriyambek Ramachandran, a sophomore at Quince Orchard High School.

There are two elements to the Dr. King tribute.  County residents are encouraged to participate in community service projects during the “Day of Service” at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Road in North Bethesda, and at various sites throughout the County.  For more information, please contact the Montgomery County Volunteer Centers at 240-777-2600 or visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/MLK. 

Later in the afternoon there will be a Musical Celebration and Tribute from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane in North Bethesda.  The celebration and tribute will feature jazz performer Marcus Johnson, gospel jazz saxophonist Brian Lenair, a choral performance by the Men of Valor of the Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church, as well as other local artists. The recipients of the 2011 Children of the Dream, Humanitarian, and Literary Arts awards will also be announced during the tribute.

Admission and parking are free, but tickets are required and seating is limited.  For tickets visit www.strathmore.org or call 240-777-2570.  For more information on the City’s Multicultural Affairs Committee contact Gaithersburg’s Community Services Division at 301-258-6395 x2, or visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov/communityservices.