By Trémene Triplett
For the News-Gazette

For the past two decades, Osceola Visionaries has marked the celebration of the Rev. Martin Luther King holiday with a fete fitting the civil rights leader who made national and international strides in the fight for social justice.

The 21st annual commemorative banquet, entitled “America is Another Name for Opportunity,” had an added flair because of the festivities that had begun earlier in the day at the nation’s Capitol.

“The program looks at the life and legacy of Dr. King,” said Anna M. Pinellas, Osceola Visionaries chairperson. “We will celebrate the inauguration of President Barack Obama,” the nation’s first African American president, who took oath to serve his second term in office on the same day.

Nearly 250 patrons filled the Kissimmee Civic Center on Monday to join in the celebration, hear the keynote address from Belvin Perry, Jr., Florida Ninth Judicial Circuit chief judge and to honor local “unsung heroes” for their civic contributions to Osceola County. Among those present were city of Kissimmee and Osceola County elected and civic officials.  

News 13’s Jackie Brockington served as the emcee to lead the joyous, energetic crowd through the program.

“Today was an outstanding day,” Brockington said. “It’s time, as the president said, to come together.”

Following ceremonial national observances, brief welcomes by other local speakers and a hearty buffet dinner, the evening was punctuated by the speech delivered by Judge Perry.

“Today we honor the immortal man and the immortal dream,” said Perry, who is best known nationally for presiding over the Casey Anthony trial where the Orange County mother was charged with killing her daughter, Caylee Anthony.

Perry discussed the American dream that King spoke about rooted in the Emancipation Proclamation and God-given rights for all men and women to: “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Perry also gave a six-point plan to realize the American dream today amid high unemployment and congressional in-fighting.

• “Stop complaining, and use your energy for new ways to succeed,” he said.

• “Stop waiting on Washington to solve our problems. Government will always have the moral responsibility to care for the least among us. Get involved in our community.”

• “Be more entrepreneurial, he said. There will be fewer big jobs in stable companies.”

• “Get out of debt. Solve problems, instead of creating problems.”

• “Learn something new, he urged the crowd. Learn American history.”

• “Create your own American dream, he concluded. I have not lost faith. I hope you have not lost faith.”

Perry’s speech was followed by Deacon Johnny Jones, Poinciana Pentecostal Church of God; Briana Emanuel, student, Florida A&M University College of Law; and Nadia Winston, principal of Kissimmee’s Highlands Elementary School who received the Unsung Heroes award from the Osceola Visionaries.

Attendees lauded the event and its content.

“I enjoy it every year when I come,” said Kissimmee resident, Judy Hardrick, who has attended each commemoration banquet since its inception. “I was impressed with Judge Perry’s speech. He reminded us of what MLK’s dream was all about.”

Her husband, Reginald Hardrick, also spoke highly of the program.

“I was impressed with how organized it was,” said Hardrick, who was a first-time attendee of the event. “The people who were honored do everyday jobs. It was very good to see them honored by ordinary people, and not just some entity or corporation.”