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Triangle and Capitol Broadcasting Honor King Legacy with Interfaith Breakfast

  • Andrea Osborne
  • January 22, 2013
  • News
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Triangle and Capitol Broadcasting Honor King Legacy with Interfaith Breakfast

“Envision a world in which we are all seen as equals, no exceptions.”
– The Rev. Nancy Huslage, Triangle Interfaith Alliance President – Prayer for Peace & Equality

The Incomparable Wray Sisters
The Incomparable Wray Sisters offer up a musical tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King at the annual breakfast.
slidesView Slideshow

Capitol Broadcasting proudly sponsored the Annual Martin Luther King Triangle Interfaith Prayer Breakfast for the 26th year on Monday, January 21, 2013.   The 33rd annual breakfast filled the Sheraton Imperial in RTP to overflowing, as over 50,000 citizens watched from home as well.  For the second year WRAL-TV aired the bulk of the program from 8:00-9:00am.

The Rev. Dr. Dumas Harshaw opened the event as presiding officer, dedicating the morning to non-violence in memory of the 20 children and 6 teachers killed in Newton, Connecticut.  He also echoed the theme of the two-day MLK celebration: “We Have Come This Far by Faith Now What We Need is Redemption and Achievement.”

“This is a time to reflect on how we’re serving one another,” said Progress Enegery Corporate & Community Relations Director Marty Clayton.  “Take this time to consider how we are serving Dr. King’s legacy.

Oshe Pittman
High school senior Oshe Pittman is congratulated on his recitation of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech & Obama’s “Yes We Can” speech.

Prayers and greetings were offered from a bevy of local elected officials and members of the clergy.

 “Let us pursue peace, O God,” offered Rabbi Lucy Dinner of the Temple Beth Or Synagogue in Raleigh.  “May be never be content until the blessing of peace reigns.”

Bruce Lightner, Founder and Chairman of the Raleigh MLK Celebration Committee, retired at this year’s event, wrapping up over three decades of growing the annual event into two days of service, music, marches, and more. 

CBC President & CEO Jim Goodmon spoke words of high praise for Lightner.

“No matter how out there what he wants to do is, I know he wants to do it for the right reason,” Goodmon said of the many ideas and projects Lightner has brought to him over the years.  “Tenacious.  Do it or die.  Bruce will do it and will get it done.”

Goodmon concluded, welcoming Lightner to the stage, by saying, “Bruce, I want to tell you how proud of you I am.”

“We have much to be thankful for in the Triangle,” said Lightner, citing that many other cities have held MLK events that faded.  “We are fortunate to be steadfast & consistent for the past 33 years.”

Bruce Lightner
Bruce Lightner retires from the Raleigh MLK Celebration Committee with much thanks.
Breakfast
Triangle residents enjoy celebrating the legacy of Dr. King at the annual breakfast.

WRAL-TV Anchor Gerald Owens opened the television portion of the event by reflecting on his own connection to Dr. King.  Owens remembered his mother kneeling in front of their television set, crying, as she heard the news of King’s death.  He said King’s major question was “What are you doing for others?”

Then James Kenan High School senior Oshe Pittman of Warsaw, NC, recited a conglomeration of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and President Barack Obama’s “Yes We Can” speech.  The young man received a rousing ovation as he wrapped with King’s famous lines, “Free at last.  Free at last.  Thank God Almighty, I’m free at last!”

New N.C. Governor Pat McCrory addressed the crowd speaking of the importance of education and technology. 

“People across this state are hurting right now,” he said.  “yet we have to believe as a state we can reach our potential.”

He said that potential can be reached by working together. 

McCrory said King “was at the grassroots level, right at the people.  Talking to the people, not at the people.” 

MLK banner
CBC is proud to sponsor the Martin Luther King Triangle Interfaith Prayer Breakfast for the 26th year.
Tony Gupton
WRAL-TV Engineer Tony Gupton helps make sure the live broadcast of the breakfast gets to WRAL viewers.

Keynote speaker Dr. Ronald C. Smith, President of the Southern Union Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, wrapped up the program, ignited the crowd.

“There is no straddling the fence when it comes to doing the right thing,” said Smith.

33rd Annual Martin Luther King Triangle Interfaith Breakfast

Bruce Lightner (left) gives Rev. Dumas Harshaw a few last minute instructions before the program begins.
The 33rd annual MLK Triangle Interfaith Prayer Breakfast takes place at the RTP Sheraton Imperial on Monday, January 21, 2013.
The 33rd annual MLK Triangle Interfaith Prayer Breakfast takes place at the RTP Sheraton Imperial on Monday, January 21, 2013.
WRAL-TV’s John Cox (left) & Clarence Williams get ready for the broadcast.
The WRAL-TV crew gets ready for the live broadcast.
The WRAL-TV crew gets ready for the live broadcast.
The WRAL-TV crew gets ready for the live broadcast.
WRAL-TV Anchor Gerald Owens chats with breakfast attendees.
WRAL-TV’s Steve Hammel (right) checks in with event Chairman Bruce Lightner.
Citizens from all over the Triangle come to RTP to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy at the annual breakfast.
Citizens from all over the Triangle come to RTP to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy at the annual breakfast.
WRAL-TV’s Loretta Harper-Arnold (right) attendees the breakfast on behalf of CBC each year.
Citizens from all over the Triangle come to RTP to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy at the annual breakfast.
Citizens from all over the Triangle come to RTP to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy at the annual breakfast.
The Rev. Dr. Dumas Harshaw opens the 2013 breakfast, again serving as Presiding Officer.
WRAL-TV Anchor Gerald Owens is introduced to the crowd.
The Rev. Dr. Dumas Harshaw offers greetings to the crowd and introduces the head table.
The head table joins in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The crowd sings along to the anthem of the morning.
The crowd sings along to the anthem of the morning, “Lift Every Voice & Sing.”
Marty Clayton, Corporate & Community Relations Director at Progress Energy, says the day is “a time to relfect on how we’re serving one another.”
The Rev. G.L. Edmond of Saint Paul AME Church in Raleigh offers a musical tribute to Dr. King.
The theme of the two-day MLK Celebration for 2013.
Mayor of Wake Forest Vivian Jones offers greetings.
Mayor Pro-Tem of Durham Cora Cole-McFadden offers greetings.
Raleigh City Council Member Russ Stephenson offers greetings on behalf of Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane.
Debra Tyler-Horton of the AARP talks about the affordable care act.
Dennis Pitts, President of McNeely Architectural Associates, presents the plans for the expansion of the MLK Memorial Gardens.
Plans for the expansion of the MLK Memorial Gardens in Raleigh.
Plans for the expansion of the MLK Memorial Gardens in Raleigh.
CBC President & CEO Jim Goodmon praises Bruce Lightner for his years of dedication to the Raleigh MLK Celebration Committee.
Bruce Lightner takes the podium to say a few words upon his retirement as chair of the MLK Celebration Committee.
Bruce Lightner, founder and chairman of the MLK Celebration Committee, is overwhelmed by the kindness of the crowd at his retirement.
WRAL-TV Anchor Gerald Owens opens the WRAL telecast portion of the program.
High School Senior Oshe Pittman recites a conglomeration of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech & Obama’s “Yes We Can” speech.
High School Senior Oshe Pittman (center) receives an ovation for his recitation of King & Obama speeches.
High School Senior Oshe Pittman (center) receives an ovation for his recitation of King & Obama speeches.
Rabbi Lucy Dinner of Temple Beth Or Synagogue in Raleigh offers a Prayer for World Peace.
Rev. Nancy Huslage, President of the Triangle Interfaith Alliance, offers a Prayer for Equality & Reconciliation.
Dr. Peter Morris, Executive Director of Urban Ministries of Wake County, offers a Prayer for the Less Fortunate.
Orage Quarles, President & Publisher of The News & Observer in Raleigh introduces N.C. Governor Pat McCrory.
N.C. Governor Pat McCrory takes the podium.
N.C. Governor Pat McCrory speaks of the importance of education, technology & working together.
The Incomparable Wray Sisters offer up a song.
The Incomparable Wray Sisters offer up a song.
The Incomparable Wray Sisters offer up a song.
The Incomparable Wray Sisters offer up a song.
The crowd enjoys the music of the Incomparable Wray Sisters.
Lawrence Wray introduces the keynote speaker.
WRAL-TV’s John Cox (left) & WRAL-TV’s Clarence Williams work hard behind the scenes to bring the breakfast live to WRAL viewers.
Dr. Ronald Smith delivers the keynote, saying, “There’s no straddling the fence when it comes to doing the right thing.”
Dr. Ronald Smith delivers the keynote, saying, “There’s no straddling the fence when it comes to doing the right thing.”
Dr. Jerry Head, Chairman of the Durham MLK Steering Committee, closes the breakfast with a benediction.
Attendees fill the Sheraton Imperial ballroom to overflowing.
WRAL-TV Engineer Tony Gupton makes sure the event gets back to the studio.
A monitor shows the event live in the WRAL remote truck.
WRAL-TV brings the MLK Triangle Interfaith Breakfast live to viewers for the 2nd year.
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