OCEAN CITY — Ocean City will celebrate the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, Jan. 15, with its annual ceremony and presentation of the Martin Luther King Community Service Awards.
The ceremony is scheduled to begin at noon at the Ocean City Tabernacle. The event brings the community together to remember King through words, song and dance. It has traditionally been held at the Ocean City Music Pier but was moved this year due to an ongoing maintenance project.
One of the highlights is always the recitation of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech by the Rev. Gregory Johnson. The event will be followed by a complimentary soul food buffet luncheon at the Tabernacle.
Two citizens, Bill McMahon III and Jane French, will be honored with Martin Luther King Community Service Awards. Each year, the awards recognize volunteer activity and service to the community.
“Both of these award recipients have been selfless and tireless in support of local residents,” according to a news release from the city.
McMahon, president of McMahon Agency at 901 Simpson Ave., has served as president of the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce since 2014.
He also is a board member with Covenant House Atlantic City, for which he has almost $200,000 since he started volunteering, and Atlantic Cape Community College Foundation, for which he has helped raise money for scholarships that help provide an equal opportunity for education.
In addition, he serves on the finance councils for Bishop McHugh Regional School and Saint Maximilian Kolbe Parish.
McMahon, one of seven children born to William Jr. and Sandy McMahon, grew up in neighboring Upper Township. He attended St. Augustine’s Regional School in Ocean City and Holy Spirit High School, graduating in 1991.
French, whom the city named Volunteer of the Year in 2011, has worked on the Doo Dah Parade, First Night and First Day at the Beach, Night in Venice, the Baby Parade, Street Rod Weekend and other events for more than three decades. In fact, French had a close friendship with Mark Soifer and worked with him on nearly every event he created as city publicist.
French also is a volunteer and benefactor at the Ocean City Tabernacle for more than two decades and served for seven years on the Ocean City Ecumenical Council.
For the past seven years, she’s been a leader and member of the Quilts of Valor Foundation, which provides hand-stitched quilts to service members and veterans.
French also is a former volunteer of the year for the HERO Campaign.
Students from grades seven and eight at the Ocean City Intermediate School will be honored for their winning essays on King’s influence on society.
Volunteers are invited to join others nationwide in a Day of Service on Jan. 15 to honor Dr. King’s contributions. Citizens are asked to participate in a citywide cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon. Sign-up and supply distribution will take place at the Howard S. Stainton Senior Center, located in the Community Center at 18th Street and Simpson Avenue. To pre-register, call (609) 399-6111, ext. 9711.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff