TYLER, Texas — The Texas African American Museum on Saturday will host the first Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. parade in Tyler and also honor a longtime servant to the city of Tyler.
TAAM Executive Director Gloria Washington said on Morning Y'all that Tyler has had the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. march for years, but there hasn't ever been a parade.
"And as I sat around contemplating about it, Tyler, Texas has never had a Martin Luther King Jr. parade," Washington said. "So that put my mind to rolling and rambling and I said, 'Well now is the time.'"
She hopes people come away with a feeling of comradery to become interested in learning about history, which she said is important to remember so it's not repeated.
The parade will include different organizations coming together to display their thoughts about King and bring cohesion in the city, community and state, Washington said.
Tyler District 3 Councilwoman Dr. Shirley McKellar said the parade is a great thing for the city of Tyler. She normally goes to the parade held in Dallas, but this year she can stay in Tyler.
"I know we always have the march, but to have an actual parade is a beautiful thing. And I think that it pulls us closer together in the city of Tyler, to be able to do that," McKellar said.
The parade will start at 10 a.m. on Glenwood Ave to Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. and end with a program at the Texas African American Museum.
Also, a part of the festivities will be museum officials naming Jan. 13 Shirley McKellar Day in the city of Tyler for her years of service and dedication to the community.
She thanked the Texas African American Museum for thinking about her and the work she does for the city.
"Well, of course, I think about the scripture in the Bible, where it talks about a person is not honored in their own community. But that's not the position of the city of Tyler because I appreciate and thank those who thought enough of me to have a Shirley McKellar Day in the city of Tyler," McKellar said. "So I'm humbled by that and as well as better doing it during the Martin Luther King Celebration Day and having a very first parade."
McKellar added that it's an honor for her to serve, including in the medical field, military and publicly.