A large audience turned out to celebrate the dream Sundayevening during the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Day program atAlexander Junior High School.

Keynote speaker the Rev. Eugene Edwards, pastor of New ZionUnion Missionary Baptist Church in Bogue Chitto, encouraged peopleto remember King’s dream and to continue to push toward realizingit for everyone.

“We do not want to turn that dream into a nightmare by ourslackness,” Edwards said.

Edwards praised progress that has been made since King. He saidthe country will celebrate King’s birthday with a national holidayand day off Monday and that many of the jobs that black people holdtoday are the result of King and others like him.

“Dr. King’s was not a dream for white folks or black folks. Itwas a dream for all people,” Edwards said.

While part of King’s dream has been realized in part of thecountry, Edwards recalled the words of his father in urging peopleto not forget the journey they have traveled so far.

“Never forget the bridge that brought you over,” Edwardssaid.

Edwards encouraged listeners to look up to God and to lookaround and pray that others will join in the celebration.

“Everybody that’s with us physically, they’re not with usspiritually,” Edwards said.

Edwards urged audience members to keep knocking at the “door ofopportunity” and to use their God-given talents to push the dooropen when needed.

Edwards also spoke of a “higher celebration” for all people toenjoy. He said people should continue looking for the day wheneveryone will meet in heaven.

“That will be the day with the large celebration is held,”Edwards said.

Sunday’s event was sponsored by the Mu Pi Lambda chapter of theAlpha Phi Alpha fraternity. It featured tributes by the Boys andGirls Club of Lincoln County and readings by fraternitymembers.