It's an annual event, but this year, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast and the Humanitarian Luncheon at the Osage Community Centre felt special. On the eve of history, attendees and presenters weren't afraid to express their joy.

"In less than 24 hours, we'll have our first African-American president inaugurated," organizer Debra Mitchell Baxter announced before the luncheon. "That's something to be proud of, isn't it?"

Rev. Adrian Jones, keynote speaker at the breakfast, used the theme of progress to launch into a message aimed at the many children chowing down on bacon and eggs.

"Thank God for our forefathers," he said. "You may be young, you may be restless, but you can make it."

After a midday meal of spaghetti, chicken wings and salad, KZIM radio personality Faune Riggin took the podium to help present the C. John Ritter Humanitarian awards. Recipients included Geraldine Lee, Beulah Vann Perry, Charlotte Wade and Lloyd Williams. New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church and Cape LaCroix United Methodist Church were also recognized for providing a new home for New Bethel's Pastor Johnny Williams.

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.comMarcia Ritter, left, presents a C. John Ritter Humanitarian Award to Beulah Vann Perry at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Luncheon Monday at the Osage Community Centre, as Debra Mitchell-Braxton watches.