Palmetto Boys State director the keynote speaker at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day event; Legion Family members nationwide also commemorated the day.
In 1993, James Bennett attended Palmetto Boys State in South Carolina. It was such a positive that he’s been with the program in some capacity or another ever since, including being named director in 2024.
His role with Boys State, along with his focus now on service-oriented initiatives and civic involvement after a long entrepreneurial career, are what brought him to Presbyterian College on Jan. 19 to serve as the keynote speaker during the school’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Convocation.
“To be honest, when I received the invitation, it took me a few days to respond,” Bennett said. “I was like, ‘Man, this is a big deal.’ It’s a huge honor to be considered to do so. I wanted to make sure I could do this the way it should be done and make sure I represent Palmetto Boys State well. And to make sure I exceed the expectations of what they are looking for. Once I said yes, I was totally committed to it and spent a lot of time preparing a speech. I wanted to make sure it was going to commemorate the life of Dr. King and ensure that the program was going to be a success.”
The theme for the program was “Mission Possible 2,” focusing on "Building Community, Uniting a Nation – The Nonviolent Way," which Bennett used to draft his speech. “I touched on what I thought were the core values of what it takes to build a community based off of the core values of Dr. King’s nonviolent movement,” Bennett said. “I used humility and courage and love and trust. I talked a lot about those values and what it meant to build a community. And I talked about how we could unite as a nation.”
Bennett said his experience as a Boys State delegate “was outstanding. I loved everything about it. I got selected to come back as a junior counselor. That year, I won most outstanding junior counselor and was asked to come back as a senior counselor. And I performed well enough as a senior counselor to be asked to come be a part of staff. And now, this will be my 34th year with the program.”
Here are just a few examples of how American Legion posts and their respective Legion Family members were involved in Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemorations. Please share your efforts at www.legiontown.org.
Delaware
In Millsboro, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 28 staged a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service by collecting items for patients at the Wilmington VA Medical Center. The unit collected enough items to fill 168 bags with clothing, shoes and toiletries for the patients at the center.
Florida
· In St. Augustine, American Legion Post 194 hosted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Cook-Out. The event included a performance by the St. Augustine High School Golden Dynasty Step Team, posting of the colors by the St. Augustine High School JROTC and a spiritual dance from the Greater St. Mary’s Missionary Baptist Church Dance Ministry.
· In Melbourne, Historic American Legion Post 191 hosted multiple MLK Day events over the weekend, including live music, a march and a town hall.
North Carolina
In Charlotte, Independence American Legion Post 262 hosted a Lunch with Martin Luther King Jr. and Other Dreams event that included a free hot dog lunch for children, games and other activities for families, a scavenger hunt and tables from various community organizations.
Pennsylvania
· In Lower Gwynedd Township, Daniel W. Dowling Post 769 hosted its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Breakfast, which was attended by members of the post and community, as well as multiple first responders. The breakfast serves as a fundraiser for the Daniel W. Dowling American Legion Post 769 Scholarship Program, which provides financial assistance to local students seeking a higher education at an accredited university or college.
· At Penn State Scranton, Past American Legion Post 274 Commander Amber Viola was the speaker at the college’s community MLK Day event, focusing on King’s service. “So many people don't actually know a lot about Dr. King, a lot about what he stood for,” she said. “They know the name, they know like the big you know, sayings and stuff, but the true advocacy and the true servant that he really was, a lot of people don't know.”
Texas
· In San Antonio, Fred Brock American Legion Post 828 hosted its annual MLK Day Veterans Coffee Social in the morning and then served as a viewing area for older or disabled area residents who wanted to view the city’s annual MLK March – billed as the nation’s largest such march in the nation. Members of the post also took part in an event at the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza to present a wreath during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Wreath-laying Ceremony.
· In Midland, American Legion Post 19 hosted a Martin Luther King Jr. Day that included food, music and football – the latter the viewing of Indiana University winning its first NCAA football national championship. Free finger foods were provided, and any veterans attending who had not joined already were given one free year of membership in The American Legion.
Virginia
In Newport News, the Denbigh American Legion Auxiliary Unit 368 teamed with the nonprofit RISSE Inc. for an MLK Day of Service effort that saw the two entities providing bagged lunches with sandwiches, chips, fruits and snacks to the homeless and those in need in the area. The recipients also were provided toiletries and coats.
Wyoming
In Casper, American Legion Post 2 provided the color guard that led the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. community walk.
- Honor & Remembrance