From: Ray Gibson
Columbus
The recent celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day recalled one of the fondest memories of my life in Columbus.
I participated in the first public ceremony of the occasion. I read the story about it in the Columbus Republic. Later, I saw a notice in the paper that the local Baptist church choir was going to sing t the ceremony and they wanted singers to come and join with the choir for the celebration.
I am a white Lutheran, but I like to sing and I thought it would be a fun thing to do so I went down to the church. I’m sorry, but I don’t remember the name of the church.
I went in there and walked down the aisle to the choir loft. I introduced myself and told them I wanted to sing with the choir in the celebration.
I was graciously invited to join in, but they put me to the test right away. Several hymns later, after I sang each part in each hymn, they were satisfied that I could sing. They promptly gave me a solo part in the in the anthem to be performed at the ceremony.
On the day of the MLK observance, I walked to the commons, greeted my fellow singers and found my place in the choir.
When it came time to sing we started off perfectly. When it came time for my solo, it went off really well expect that I promptly forgot there were two verses to my solo.
Fortunately, there was a very alert member who picked up the second verse and covered it so well that it appeared to be rehearsed.
After the ceremony, we all shook hands and said goodbye.
This remains, to me, of my the nicest memories of my life here in Columbus.
