NewsUpper SchoolStudent LifeService
Darlington Joins Rome’s Downtown King Celebration
Feb 16, 2001 8:00 AM
By Stefan Eady - Faculty
“It was a beautiful day after weeks of cold weather and rain—even a touch of spring in the air. The crowd was friendly, relaxed, and festive,” David Hicks, Darlington president, begins a description of his experience at Rome’s Martin Luther King celebration on Monday, Jan. 15. The celebration, called “Celebrate King March,” was held at the Rome City Auditorium in honor of the life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
That Monday, following a prayer, about 25 students, including nine Darlington students and faculty, marched down Broad Street in downtown Rome to the city auditorium holding hands and singing “We Shall Overcome” with about 250 Romans.
“It was fun singing some of the old freedom march songs and participating vicariously and from a great distance in time in the brave struggles of those who marched and peacefully demonstrated for social justice in the Sixties. It was particularly fun for Betsy and me to do this in the company of our students,” Hicks said.
Darlington students participated in several ways in the march and related activities. Senior Tia Brown sang in a talent show at Berry College held on Saturday to celebrate the upcoming holiday.
Acquania Gibbs, senior, was asked by President Hicks to read the litany during the celebration at the auditorium and Hicks spoke about the purpose of the celebration. Darlington’s president serves on the King Commission that sponsored the program.
A lunch followed the event for which Fraser Pearson, ARAMARK food service director, in cooperation with ARAMARK, donated 100 pounds of cole slaw.
“It was great to see Darlington out in force on this day, celebrating the day actively rather than just taking the day off,” Hicks said.
That Monday, following a prayer, about 25 students, including nine Darlington students and faculty, marched down Broad Street in downtown Rome to the city auditorium holding hands and singing “We Shall Overcome” with about 250 Romans.
“It was fun singing some of the old freedom march songs and participating vicariously and from a great distance in time in the brave struggles of those who marched and peacefully demonstrated for social justice in the Sixties. It was particularly fun for Betsy and me to do this in the company of our students,” Hicks said.
Darlington students participated in several ways in the march and related activities. Senior Tia Brown sang in a talent show at Berry College held on Saturday to celebrate the upcoming holiday.
Acquania Gibbs, senior, was asked by President Hicks to read the litany during the celebration at the auditorium and Hicks spoke about the purpose of the celebration. Darlington’s president serves on the King Commission that sponsored the program.
A lunch followed the event for which Fraser Pearson, ARAMARK food service director, in cooperation with ARAMARK, donated 100 pounds of cole slaw.
“It was great to see Darlington out in force on this day, celebrating the day actively rather than just taking the day off,” Hicks said.
