The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was recognized in Richmond County on Saturday with a parade down East Washington Street in Rockingham.
Ellerbe Mayor Brenda Capel served as grand marshal of the annual parade, which also included cadets from the Raider Battalion, the Richmond Jammers AAU basketball team, several churches, and fraternal and community organizations.
During a program on the steps of the old courthouse, the Richmond County Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Foundation recognized the winners of its essay and poster contests:
Michael Newton, who placed first in the essay contest, and third-place winner Yaira Hernendez both read their essays aloud to the crowd. Glenisha Thomas placed second.
Poster winners were Sophia Garcia, a fifth grader at West Rockingham Elementary, and Kyra Williams, a fifth grader at Monroe Avenue Elementary.
A weekend of events kicked off Friday evening with a gala at Liberty Place and there was a prayer breakfast prior to the parade.
An ecumenical service is scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday at Outreach for Jesus and there will be a noon luncheon Monday at Wayman Chapel.
See photos from the parade below.
