At noon today the 25th annual King County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration took place at Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall.

West Seattle residents attending included King County Executive Dow Constantine, who spoke, King County Council Member Joe McDermott, and King County District Court's Chief Presiding Judge Barbara Linde. Attending from White Center were soon-to-be King County District 8 Civil Rights Commissioner Aileen Sison with her mother, Erlinda Aparis Sison. (We will follow up shortly with a story about Aileen's new post.)

The theme for 2012: "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"

2012 marks the 25th year that King County and its employees will honor the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and celebrate his vision of an America offering opportunity for all. The public was invited to join King County employees at Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle for the county's Silver Anniversary celebration.

Speakers included King County Executive Dow Constantine, County Council Chair Larry Gossett, and former King County Councilmember Bruce Laing, one of the leaders who worked to rename the county in honor of Dr. King 25 years ago.

The celebration included musical performances by Abráce, a Seattle-based group that builds inter-cultural understanding through music, along with the reunited MLK Employee Singers, county employees who have performed at previous celebrations. The event also featured the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Essay Award ceremony, sponsored by the King County Civil Rights Commission.

County Council Chair Larry Gossett:

"I'm here today for King County Government to celebrate for the 25th great year our community's tribute and legacy to the late, great Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.," Council Member Gossett told the West Seattle Herald before the presentation. "And, secondly, to honor the fact that we are extremely proud of Dr. King being the namesake of our diverse community of two million residents of Martin Luther King County."

In his speech he said, ""This year's theme was derived from a poem urging participation in the effort to end Apartheid in South Africa,. Those powerful words, 'We are the ones we have been waiting for,' recognizes our individual and collective responsibility to continue Dr. King's work to make this one nation with equity and justice for all and calls on us to not remain silent in the battle to eliminate inequities in King County and throughout America."

According to the King County Government website, Born and raised in Seattle, Larry (Gossett) has been a dedicated servant of the people for over 40 years. After graduating from Franklin High School, he became a VISTA volunteer in Harlem (1966-1967). Councilmember Gossett attended the University of Washington, where he was one of the original founders of the Black Student Union (BSU). As a respected student activist he fought to eliminate racial discrimination and increase the enrollment of African Americans and other students of color at the University. After graduation, he became the first supervisor of the Black Student Division, in the Office of Minority Affairs.

King County Executive Dow Constantine:

"I thought it was great," Constantine told the Herald following the event. "It's always a fun celebration. Every year is different. I really enjoyed the musical group we had this year. It's always great to hear Council Member Gossett's reflections because he was there. He was a very young man, but he was there. Also, Council Member Lang who, as a Republican, stood up at a time when a lot of other folks weren't willing to stand up and say we ought to change the name of this County and stand up for our ideals.

"Our employees are so dedicated to public service and the principles that Dr. King espoused and it's wonderful to have them together to have them spend a moment reflecting on his legacy," Constantine added.

Council Member Joe McDermott:

"I think it's really important to remind ourselves of Dr. King's message, what he called us all to be, higher people, and to use the occasion of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday to remind ourselves to roll up our sleeves and work," McDermott told the Herald at the Hall.

He added, "I'm always struck by Council Member Gossett, his personal story and his history in the civil rights movement both locally and nationally, not only in the African community, but beyond."

Judge Barbara Linde:

"I'm her to honor the legacy of Dr. King and to show support for these young students who have inspired us with their essays," Judge Linde told the Herald.

"As part of the legal community, the justice and fairness for all is part of the fabric of what we as judges do, so honoring Dr. King who is the leader of that effort is close to my heart," she said, adding on a side note, "Dr. King went to Boston University, which I didn't know until my son went there."

In September of 1951, Martin Luther King began doctoral studies in Systematic Theology at Boston University.

(Last year's keynote speaker was Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, used the allegory of a gardener using two flower boxes, one with rich, fertile soil and one with poor, rocky soil to discuss the insidious and harmful impacts of racism on the well-being and health of the nation.)

his event will be televised on King County Television, seen on Comcast and Broadstripe Cable Channel 22, on the following dates:

(Tonight) Thursday, Jan. 12, 8 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 13, 3 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 14, 10 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 15, 9 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 16, 9:30 a.m. & 7 p.m.