Medgar Evers honored at Arlington 50 years after assassination

Myrlie Evers-Williams (far right) is joined by former president Bill Clinton (far left) and Derrick Johnson (2nd from left) and Ben Jealous (3rd from left) of the NAACP. Jealous said the military band played 'Taps' as Evers-Williams placed a wreath in honor of her husband, slain civil rights leader, Medgar Evers.. (Facebook photo)

From The Mississippi Link Newswire

ARLINGTON, Va. – Slain NAACP field secretary, civil rights leader, World War II veteran, father and husband – Medgar Wiley Evers, was honored Wednesday at Arlington National Cemetery in a wreath-laying ceremony, organized by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP.)

Myrlie Evers-Williams (far right) is joined by former president Bill Clinton (far left) and Derrick Johnson (2nd from left) and Ben Jealous (3rd from left) of the NAACP. Jealous said the military band played 'Taps' as Evers-Williams placed a wreath in honor of her husband, slain civil rights leader, Medgar Evers. (Facebook photo)

Next week will be the 50th anniversary of the assassin’s bullet that killed patriot and stalwart for civil rights – Medgar Evers, a son of Mississippi.  He was respectfully honored Wednesday in a beautiful and well-attended ceremony with distinguished speakers including former President Bill Clinton, Attorney General Eric Holder, NAACP Mississippi State Conference President Derrick Johnson, NAACP President Ben Jealous and NAACP Chairman Emeritus Myrlie Evers-Williams.  Roland Martin, of TV One and the Tom Joyner Morning Show, presided as Master of Ceremonies.

Approximately 300 attendees including organizers, military service men and women, NAACP staff and members, members of the US Congress, the Boy Scouts of America Baltimore Area Council, Troop 8548 and family and friends of the widow of Medgar Evers–Myrlie Evers-Williams.

The program included an invocation from Rabbi David Saperstein, director, Religious Action Center of reformed Judaism and member,  NAACP National Board of Directors.  And words from Da’Quan Love, President, Virginia Youth and College division of the NAACP and Ms. Lorraine Miller, member, NAACP National Board of Directors as well as Dr. Larry West, Chairman, Board of Directors National Baptist Convention.   Attendees were treated to talented performances from , violinist and ACT-SO alum John Uzodinma and a musical tribute from recording artist, VaShawn Mitchell.

NAACP President Ben Jealous said that many of the battles fought 50 years ago are still being waged today–he made this declaration for the future: “All our children deserve to grow up in a country where their voting rights are protected -all our children deserve to grow up in a country where they are respected and supported no matter what race or color they may be.  All our children deserve up to grow up in a country whose soul is healed from the scars and violence of racism and racial oppression in our country.

Former President Bill Clinton, led Evers-Williams to the stage at the Old Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington and gave short speech before introducing the Chairman Emeritus to the stage.

Medgar Evers' daughter, Reena, (far left) joins her mother, Myrlie Evers-Williams (r) during a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington Wednesday in celebration of Medgar Evers' life. (Photo taken by CG Taylor, CitVisual and courtesy of the NAACP)

Clinton harkened back about the reign of assassinations and riots that occurred in the 1960s and made this apropos analogy: “The next time you hear people complaining around Washington about what a rough business democracy is, you might do well to remind them what it was like 50 years ago and the sacrifices that were made. We must avoid the temptation to confuse memory with meaning -there was meaning in Medgar Evers life.”

The Honorable Eric Holder, Attorney General of the United States said: “Today’s ceremony presents an important opportunity to recommit ourselves and to recommit our great nation to the principals he lived and died to defend.  It provides a chance to ensure that his contributions and his remarkable leadership are remembered for generations to come. And it calls each of us to lift up the legacy of a man who stood at the forefront of the American Civil Rights Movement.”

After the 1963 assassination of her husband, Evers-Williams went on to raise her family and continue the legacy of Medgar.  She continues the work today with the Myrlie and Medgar Evers Institute.

“Medgar was a man who never wanted adoration – who never wanted to be in the limelight,” She said at the ceremony. “He was a man who saw a job that needed to be done and he answered the call.  In the fight for freedom, dignity and justice not just for his people but all people–I would say to him: How can you say you love the state of your birth and he said because I do and because I do I will work as hard as I can to make positive change.”

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of flags—the American and NAACP flag and finally the laying of a wreath in honor of Medgar Evers.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*