Martin Luther King, Jr. remembered across metro area - KMSP-TV

Crowds gathered across the metro Atlanta area to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday.

A large crowd gathered in the Sweet Auburn District to remember the civil rights icon. They first took in the annual commemorative service at Ebenezer Baptist Church, and then snapped photos and talked about Dr. King.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SERVICE

"I really think that it's a significant day, being both the inauguration and the day that we honor Dr. King and thinking about the connections and the progress that's been made in civil rights. It's really important to honor that legacy ," said Laura Seay.  

Families of all races and spanning across generations took time to remember and to reflect. Amber Windom took her son Jackson to see the King Memorial's eternal flame.

"He has lots of friends of many different colors and he loves them all. We try to show him that it would not be possible without the efforts of Dr. King," Windom said.

Monday was on the second time in history that MLK Day coincided with the presidential inauguration.  The nation's first black president, President Barack Obama,  took the oath for his second term in a public ceremony on Monday.

"Civil rights is an issue for  every generation and that educating our children about it is very important if we want to continue with the gains we have made," said Seay.

Sandy Springs observed the MLK holiday with a community celebration.
   
City leaders honored the legacy of Dr. King by presenting the annual humanitarian award. Felix Lora was recognized for his commitment to community service.
   
As executive director of the Sandy Springs Mission, Lora works with at-risk students, helping them graduate from high school.

Mount Vernon Baptist Church founded the Sandy Springs Mission back in April of 1999. Lora has been executive director since 2001.

In Decatur, bands, floats, and cheerleaders took part in an MLK Day parade.

Hundreds of people lined the streets to watch the celebration of the civil rights icon. They said Monday was a time to reflect on the accomplishments and honor the memory of Dr. King.