JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — People from all over the world are paying respect to Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today, and some are using it as a day of service to honor a man who devoted his life to improving the lives of others.
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Today, at Blue Cypress Parks Fishing Pier, Jax locals are paying tribute to The American Civil Rights icon in their own special way.
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“Everything I’ve ever heard or read about Dr. King has been focused on service to your fellow human being,” Paul Wharton said.
On Martin Luther King Jr. day, the city of Jacksonville is recognizing Dr. King by asking volunteers to help with park beautification and litter pick up.
“Dr. King means to me freedom and believing,” Maya Chapman said.
Working along the boardwalk and the shoreline – volunteers were asked to get down and dirty in areas that could get muddy and littered with trash.
Read: More than 200 groups and organizations participate in Jacksonville’s MLK Day Parade
“Oh my gosh, today, cans, bottles, a couple carry out boxes,” Bob Doughty said.
Yet volunteers say they don’t mind taking part in the clean up because it’s something they believe would have made Dr. King proud. Timucuan Parks Foundation Program and Outreach Director Felecia Boyd spear headed todays MLK day of service. She says an abundance of trash ends up under Blue Cypress Parks Pier.
“It’s at the bend of the river so it collects a lot of trash,” Felicia Boyd said.
It’s a spot these volunteers had no problem cleaning up.
Kendall Bloom believes preventing the trash from entering the waterway is important. “Make sure that it doesn’t get in the water and affect the marine life.”
“I think it’s nothing dramatic but it’s the kind of thing I think Dr. King would look at and smile upon,” Paul Wharton said.
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Timucuan Parks Foundation and volunteers tell me that today’s clean up showed that all ages and ethnic backgrounds can work together to do something productive to improve a community resource. To them that is the best way to honor Dr. King.