Jan. 9, 2026 Editor, The News-Gazette: In 1968, I was 14 years old when Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered. (Now I am 72.) Less than one year after Dr. King’s death, my Dad died.
My Dad taught me at a young age that every person was to be respected and cared for no matter what. It didn’t matter if the person prayed like us or looked like us or lived like us. No person was above or below any other person.
Every year, that is the spirit that prevails in the crowd at the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Lexington. Our community joins together in joy and enthusiasm as we celebrate justice, love, and equality. Please come out and feel the sense of belonging in your vibrant, welcoming, and loving community. The warmth of the crowd’s collective heart softens the chill of the temperature.
It seems hard to believe that this year will be the 10th annual MLK Parade in downtown Lexington. The parade will step off at 10:30 am on Jan. 19 in front of the Randolph Street United Methodist Church.
As has been true each year, I will be one of the parade marshals, greeting you as you walk toward the starting point of the parade. I hope to see you there! JIM MOLITERNO Lexington
