58. New Smyrna Beach celebrates MLK holiday

Videos produced by Multimedia Editor Serafina Frederick / Photos by Henry Frederick /
Video highlights include"We Shall Overcome," by the NSB Middle School Stingrays Marching Band,  sisters Samaria and Constance Darrisaw singing, and Jimmy Harrell giving the keynote speech, all in commemoration of the Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday. Below, Pastor Lorenzo Laws hosts the MLK festivities at Old Fort Park.

Pastor Lorenzo LawsNEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Some 200 strong led by Allen Chapel AME Church pastor Lorenzo Laws marched, prayed and sang -- all in respect to the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the national holiday.

The NSB celebration comes in at No. 58 in Headline Surfer's countdown of the top 100 local stories of 2012.

A bright sunny Monday morning was the setting for a peaceful march -- more so a parade from the Westside of New Smyrna Beach and across the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge to downtown and Old Fort Park where blacks and whites who lived through segregation came together, along with future generations of adults from the many young to commemorate the life and death of the civil rights leader.

A sea of citizens -- young and old alike -- gather in downtown New Smyrna Beach to celebrate the MLK holiday.

There was a poignant moment when two sisters -- Samaria and Constance Darrisaw stood together and sang, "How Great thou Art."

At one point in the song, the kid sister forgot her line and the crowd picked it up in unison, with the big sister taking over on her verse and the two were in harmony again.

Led by pastor Laws, others who addressed the assembly were Lester Mitchell of the local NAACP, Veris Robinson, former City Commissioner Oretha Bell and Pastor Pete Carter with the keynote address delivered by Jimmy Harrell.

He recalled the first march he was involved in and how he feared retribution in a formerly segregated city while marching down Canal Street, but it turned out peaceful.

"Did Martin Luther King die in vain?," asked Harrell, who runs the African-American Museum in the Westside with his wife, Mary. "No he didn't. His dream is still alive -- still alive folks."

Photo for Headline Surfer by Angela Carter / Some 200 people cross the Dr. Marin Luther King Jr. Bridge over U.S. 1 from the West Side to downtown New Smyrna Beach on Monday in honor of the MLK holiday. 

About 200 people took part in the mid-morning march from the West Side, across the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge over U.S. 1 and into the downtown. They settled at Old Fort Park for song, prayer and inspirational speeches.

Top 100 Countdown Recap:

58. New Smyrna Beach celebrates MLK holiday
59. Halloween parade in NSB draws lots of children
60. Volusia County teens celebrate world language festival at New Smyrna Beach High School
61. Ida Wright wins Daytona-area school board seat primary
62. VCSO deputy recognized for 'job well done' in reviving baby
63. Outdoor fire ban lifted in mid-June for unincorporated Volusia County, Oak Hill, Pierson and Lake Helen
64. NSBHS graduating seniors receive $2.2 million in scholarships Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/411347-64-nsbhs-graduating-seniors-receive-22-million-scholarships
65. VCSO: Man murdered in Osteen may be linked to drug growing operation
66. Circuit judge: Death sentence stands for Deltona Xbox mass murderer
67. Murderous rampage: Port Orange man kills own son and a camper at RV park in Deerfield Beach before killing himself
68. Alleged New Smyrna Beach serial arsonist nabbed by Volusia County Sheriff's investigators
69. Feds: NSB man gets 12 years in prison for kiddie porn
>70. NASCAR promotes management talent into senior ranks
71. Deputy shoots and kills DeLeon Springs man after rifle pointed at him while trying to serve warrant
72. Bike Week body paint model at Cabbage Patch outside NSB strikes a pose
73. Palm Coast man gets sentence of at least 25 years in prison for robbing Ormond Beach pharmacy of painkillers
74. Edgewater police chief relieved accused killer who dumped bodies here captured
75. Port Orange man dies in fire; blaze contained to victim's apartment
76. Santa brings toys for tots to NSB via train
77. Ocassional NSB resident Johnny Damon signs with Cleveland Indians
78. NSBHS students of driving age learn importance of organ donation
79. Edgewater man killed after being struck by train while throwing rocks at it
80. County Council breaks bread with Daytona Area Chamber of Commerce
81. Body of 55-year-old DeBary man found in charred remains of home
82. Crossdresser rebuffed in trying to rob Deltona pharmacy of pills
83. Deltona pit bull 'Snoopy' back home
84. Ormond Beach cops: Man driving upwards of 150 mph in Lamborghini killed on US 1
85. NSB cops: Motorist arrested on fourth DUI charge
86. Postal truck becomes engulfed in flames in Edgewater, but mail salvaged
87. New Smyrna Beach Finance Dept. wins national award
88. Sad irony: Elderly man drowns in river named for death
89. NSB Fire Chief Dave McAllister among community award winners by Volusia League of Cities
90. Unlicensed 17-year-old Orange City boy runs over and kills 84-year-old woman in Deltona shopping plaza
91. NSB City Clerk Johnny Bledsoe gets new contract; 20 weeks compensation if canned
92. Votran bus operator drives 2 million miles on Volusia County roads without an accident
93. Jason McGuirk gets Jim Hathaway's seat on NSB commission
94. Holly Hill woman calls in bomb threat at work forcing evacuation of 300; tells cops she was bored
95. Sheriff holds open house in Oak Hill six months after taking over law enforcement duties
96. Audio: Cop pursuit in New Smyrna Beach with speeds clocked at 100 mph-plus ends with stop sticks
97. Ponce Inlet Councilman Joseph Perrone holds onto his seat by one vote
98. Edgewater's Tia McDonald featured in book while visiting Australia
99. Gene Emter wins Edgewater City Council seat by 12-vote margin in special election Link: http://headlinesurfer.com/content/410884-99-gene-emter-wins-edgewater-city-council-seat-12-vote-margin-special-election
100. Chip Ganassi cars finish 1-2 in Rolex at Daytona
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