When Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered his famed “I Have A Dream,” speech he called for all races to unite and end discrimination. Forty years after his death, people still gather to remember the man with the dream.

Several organizations throughout the county will be uniting to celebrate King’s memory.

The Martin Luther King Planning Committee has put together two programs to honor the late Dr. King’s memory.

On Sunday the group will host a celebration at the McConnel Road Community Center in Calhoun at 5:30 p.m. The theme is “Now is the Time: Making Real the Promise.” There will be several speakers from the community including minister Eddie Byrd and Judge Richie Parker.

The celebration will continue on Monday. Citizens are encourage to visit the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial site on Court Street and place a flower in memory of loved ones.

The group will meet again at the community center at 6 p.m. for a roll call of all loved ones who “have paved the way for us,” says chairman Walter Harris.

An organization called P.E.A.C.E. (Providing Education Awareness to Community affecting Evolution) in Young Life Center, Inc. and Diamond Divas/ Rough will be hosting celebrations in recognition of Dr. King’s dream. The second Martin Luther King, Jr. March Celebration will take place Monday, Jan. 18 beginning at 10 a.m. at the top of the hill on Neal Street and Martin Luther King Street.

PEACE in Young Life Center, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has been in business for 20 years and here in Calhoun for the past three years. The association works with various other organizations and businesses and the youth and young adults of the community to provide skill building, conflict resolution, peer mediation education and substance abuse groups.

The march will end at the courthouse in downtown Calhoun and then proceed to the SDA Calhoun Church on Highway 53 across from the fair grounds for the rest of the program, food and fellowship. There will be guests from Atlanta, Tennessee and Alabama.