By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
Despite freezing temperatures, the Del Rio community showed up for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration at the San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District’s Student Performance and Administration Center on Monday.
City Community Services Director Esme Meza, one of the event’s organizers, said having the event at the performance center was “Plan B” due to the weather, which saw temperatures hovering close to the freezing mark all morning.
“We wanted good participation. Since we saw the weather was going to be bad, we went ahead and moved the event inside,” Meza said.
City of Del Rio Mayor Al Arreola was present and thanked School Superintendent Dr. Carlos Rios for allowing the building to be used for the celebration. Arreola also thanked everyone attending Monday morning.
The guest speakers included Val Verde County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr., Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez, Rios and School Board President Raymond Meza.
Amy Haynes and her mother Lonia Haynes sang a duet of “I’m Free” by Rev. Milton Brunson & The Thompson Community Singers.
The event’s keynote speaker was Laura Tate, a retired police officer who traveled from San Antonio, and said she had been invited by Lonia and Amy Haynes.
“This dream had taken residence in the hearts of many; giving hope to the hopeless, strength to the weary and sight to the visually-impaired. This morning I encourage all of us; no, I implore us to push past the dream and press on toward transforming the dream. For dreams become reality when we take action,” Tate said.
Tate said her dream was to become a San Antonio police officer at a time when women, especially African-American women, were rarely accepted in that role. Tate said she put her faith in God, but added she had to do the work and became the seventh Black police officer in San Antonio.
After the event, those who attended enjoyed hotdogs, sponsored by the Community Health Initiative Coalition; Julio’s corn chips and seasoning, and tea, sponsored by HTeaO.
