29th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

SIKESTON -- Every year Gloria Wilderness brings her daughters to Sikeston's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day program.

Wilderness explains she wants her daughters to know about the man and the history.

"It is just important to pass on the legacy of freedom," said Wilderness. "I want them to be mindful of the struggle -- to be aware of and appreciative of what others have gone through to bring us where we are today."

Older daughter, Veronica, said she has learned about the marches King led and the boycotts.

Her younger sister, Miranda, put it more succinctly: "Dr. King did good things."

That was part of the message put forward by speakers at Monday's program celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Day Jr. at the Green Memorial Church of God in Christ in Sikeston.

Calvin Bird, speaking about the purpose the day, said he wanted the audience to know about King as a preacher.

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