Show our appreciation

Jul. 10—Danville's Mary Thompson began to make sure the city celebrated January's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in style more than 25 years ago. She's directed those festivities ever since.

That celebration spun off summer's Community Day, a fun-filled afternoon scheduled for 2:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday at Temple Plaza downtown.

This year's Community Day, however, has a dual purpose. Not only will residents come together to enjoy free food, music and activities, this year's 30th Community Day will serve to honor Thompson's contributions to Danville as she steps aside.

Sunday's event will feature the usual free food and beverages, an activity area for children where participants can win prizes and music from As One Gospel Singers from Indianapolis. Should the weather turn rainy, the event will move just a block or so farther west on North Street to the Masonic Temple.

No one can measure the value of Thompson's efforts and the influence they have had on a generation of Danville residents. Her willingness to volunteer to put together an annual celebration of the efforts of Dr. King and those who walked with him to improve the civil rights of all Americans can't be gauged with a ruler or a spreadsheet.

No one knows for sure how many people learned about the trials and hardships faced by those who worked tirelessly in the 1950s and 1960s to end segregation and create equal opportunities for all through Danville's annual King celebration. Few could estimate the number of residents who learned about their neighbors during a Community Day hot afternoon. But one factor is certain: Thompson's efforts and those of the others who helped put together these events made our city better.

With Thompson retiring, the question becomes who will take her place? City officials continue to help put together these special days, but they cannot do it alone. Residents should consider becoming volunteers and adding their efforts to these and other special events. Those are the type of contributions that improve our community.

For information on Sunday's Community Day, contact Martha Espino, chair of the city's Human Right Commission, at 217-597-1465; Elder Tyson Parks at 217-369-3920; or the city's Human Relations office at 217-431-2280.

If you see Mary Thompson out and about during Community Day, be sure to thank her for her dedication and her time toward these special events. She can be sure she helped make Danville a better place for us all.