Remembering history while looking ahead to the future was a common theme of Monday’s parade and program in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

A parade wound its way through downtown Clanton and to the West End community early Monday afternoon. Dozens of participants marched and many more drove vehicles of all kinds, throwing candy to the crowd that lined the route despite chilly conditions.

The parade ended at E.M. Henry Park, where a program was held.

The program has traditionally been held at the E.M. Henry Head Start Center or the adjacent pavilion, but renovations in the area forced the move to a nearby church.

“Where God is, we can be there too,” organizer Robert Binion said.

The Rev. Stanley Ward offered an opening prayer, and then Sis. Loraine Ward gave a welcome to those in attendance, who repeated the Pledge of Allegiance.

Kaye Baker moved the audience with a rendition of the National Anthem and then sang “Hold On Just a Little While Longer.”

Clanton Mayor Billy Joe Driver and local ministers were recognized.

Parade Grand Marshal the Rev. Elijah Good, pastor of the World’s Church of the Living God in Clanton, said he has seen the community change in his 40 years in the area.

“I remember the hard times,” said Good, who passed out dollar bills instead of candy along the parade route.

Roger Ware was next to speak. Ware said he joined the Air Force in 1964, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement.

Ware told the audience that he had “just a little note,” and then pulled a long roll of paper from his pocket, allowing it to stream down to the floor to laughter.

“It would take more paper than this to talk about all the things Dr. King has done,” Ware said.

Ware said he was the first black person in flight engineering school and was told by a colleague that he wouldn’t make it.

“He just didn’t know how much that inspired me,” said Ware, who has been retired from the Air Force for 30 years.

Ware said he was successful because of lessons learned at home, and then his 92-year-old mother, Doris Ware, was recognized and thanked Binion for continuing the annual program and King for his contributions.

“I myself have gotten a piece of the pie,” she said.

The guest speaker was an evangelist from Atlanta.

A moment of silence was held for military men and women, and Binion concluded the program with a closing prayer and remarks.

“One day they’re going to realize that when you stop holding a man down, the world will be a better place,” he said about the continued struggle for equality.