Featured speeches given by County Executive, Ron Sims
King County Celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Below are the talking points of Executive Sims speech at King County's 19th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration delivered on Jan. 11, 2002.
20th Annual King County
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration.
Benaroya Hall
200 University Street
Seattle, Washington
Thursday, January 11, 2007
12 noon – 1 p.m.
I want to thank the dedicated King County employees who organized this program to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Junior and to celebrate the rich diversity of this county:
Bailey de Iongh is our committee chair. But there was a bigger group of people who helped, and I want you all to stand so we can thank you for this program today.
Today we celebrate the 78th birthday of King County's namesake, the late civil rights leader Rev. Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr., winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
We are on the verge of unveiling our new county logo – a graphic image of Dr. King. I have seen samples of the logo and it is remarkable. Our new logo isn't just a drawing, it is a symbol of who we are as a people. It is a symbol of King County's solemn pledge to reflect the values of Dr King.
Our new county logo will provoke many different thoughts and emotions. Some of us will see Dr. King's greater dream of equality and justice. Others may see something a little different? Some will see his fight against unjust wars. Others might see him offer counsel and hope from a Birmingham jail. Still others may see his simple call for us to love one another.
One thing I'm certain of, we're all going to be proud of the new logo and to be known as Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. County.
We have come so far since the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964 yet there is so much more to do.
But for now, let us celebrate. I want to take a minute to thank all of you county employees here today for your public service. We work on behalf of King County citizens, and we are under constant scrutiny. People expect a lot of us. Each department seems to have its turn in the spotlight. Sometimes our good work makes the news, but more often it doesn't. We are here to serve the people and solve their problems and preserve our quality of life.
We face many challenges every day, and we find great personal reward for doing the work of the people. I give you my personal thanks for your dedication and good work. I am proud of you.
Our excellence in county service was clearly evident in our recent response to one of the worst wind and rain storms in King County history.
It took a collaborative effort from all of our county departments to meet the needs of our residents. And we all did it together. I want to personally recognize:
The King County Wastewater Division and their sewer utility crews that responded to massive sewage overflow,
- The Rivers Section and flood patrols who monitored the levees,
- The King County Roads Services Division that made sure our roads were maintained and shut down if necessary,
- Public Health – Seattle & King County, King County's Department of Community and Human Services and their partners for mobilizing hundreds of people to deliver health and safety tips in multiple languages,
- The King County Office of Emergency Management staff who focused on the needs of the county's most at-risk,
- The public information officers who worked extra hours to keep the public and media informed,
- And finally to all the county employees who partnered with the Red Cross to provide shelters for residents affected by the storm.
As we watch this program today let us be inspired by the deeds of ordinary people who ended up doing extraordinary things, I want to take a moment to thank you, the employees of King County for your generosity.
You've given of your time and resources year after year to local groups, now you are helping people across our great region repair. I am humbled by your generosity.
It is easy to forget that Dr. King was only 39 years of age when he died. That he helped spark a racial revolution in American society before his assassination in Memphis is a testament to the power of his vision and the grandeur of his words. Not long before he died, King described how he would like to be remembered:
"I'd like someone to mention that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others. I'd like somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe the naked. I want you to say on that day that I did try in my life to visit those who were in prison. And I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity."
That, my dear friends, is the essence of good government and the fuel that ignites effective policy. May his spirit inspire you as you return to do the great work that you do for the residents of King County.
Thank you.