January 16, Monday is a National Holiday to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King, a native of Atlanta, Georgia was a minister, civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient. At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would give the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Fund of Rutherford County will sponsor the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Program on Monday, January 16, 2012 at the Patterson Park Community Center in the Adult Gym located at 521 Mercury Boulevard at 1 pm. The admission is free.

The event will feature local youth of the community who will celebrate in the form of artistic expression by song, dance, poetry reading, youth bands and praise teams.

The lineup includes: Lavergne High School Choraliers directed by Mr. Gilbert Aldridge, Lavergne High School Jazz Band Ensemble, directed by Mr. Edward Freytag, Smithfork District's Youth Praise Team, Nabil Ahlhauser, Generation for Creation, Mary Grace Williams, Mr. Rischer's 6th Grade class of Bradley Academy School for the Arts, Amashia Mabone, Mrs. Rhonda Alley and Michael Alley, Oakland Steppers, Juvenile Commotion, CATS directed by Mr. Craig Watkins and Mr. Todd Johnson and Dominique Dy.

Each year the program ends with special guest, Mr. Albert Richardson, Gospel Singer.

The celebration is honored to have Mr. Rickey O. Field, presiding as the Master of Ceremonies and Zavior Phillips, as the Co Emcee. Dr. George Smith will give concluding remarks regarding the program perfomed by the youth.

Contact Monica Sharee Johnson, 615-890-7116 or Katie Wilson, 615-556-7189 for more information.