MANCHESTER – For a little over a half century, the School District has observed the work and contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and that legacy continued this year, inside the high school auditorium.
The event is believed to be the longest continually running tribute in New Jersey and among the longest in the country. It began the year after Dr. King’s assassination and was coordinated by chorus founder, Queen Cannon, with the support of Manchester Schools.
Cannon was a teacher and guidance counselor in Manchester for 35 years and currently resides in North Carolina, where she is still very active in her church and community.
Since it began, performances by the Manchester Gospel Chorus and a special Alumni Chorus, accompanied by a small band of talented musicians, brought the audience to their feet, clapping and singing along to a variety of gospel selections throughout the evening. Eric Lawson, who served as master of ceremonies during the evening spoke about the uniqueness of a district allowing for such a spiritual activity being allowed to occur inside a school.
“We are blessed to have the best superintendent of schools in all of New Jersey. We are honored that he has been part of this wonderful celebration every year and we are thankful because you don’t automatically get that,” Lawson said.
Retiring Superintendent David Trethaway noted that he postponed his retirement by one month so he could attend this program in his role of school district leader, one last time. He was the keynote speaker and said he and his wife Ann Marie, had not missed a program during his 14 years as superintendent.
“I can’t imagine a better program to be a part of,” Trethaway said. He was pleased that after last year’s event which was virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program could resume live.
“We need to be here. A program like this, that energy from those on stage, it reminds us that while we are struggling through (the pandemic) all this there are good things in our lives, and it takes that kind of energy to bring that back to us,” Trethaway said.
“Fifty-three years, only in Manchester does this happen. It was a dream 53 years ago and there were many before us that made this possible. We owe it to our children to carry on this tradition so they never forget the sacrifices that men like Dr. Martin Luther King made and to keep his dream alive,” the superintendent said. “Dr. King’s life needs to be studied and remembered. We are living in some very difficult times. We have more in common then we have differences. By listening and understand and respecting each other we’ll be able to make Dr. King’s dream come true which was that people will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
Claire Rutz, the advisor for the Gospel Chorus at the middle school, once again served as the event’s coordinator. “We lost our chorus director Selena Bullock who died of an illness and she was only 49 years old.”
Bullock’s daughter Taylor now serves as director; her daughter Jaydyn is assistant director, and her son James is the band director and moderator. “They have continued to honor Dr. King and to create an environment where this is possible. They are immensely talented and so they are carrying on their mother’s work,” Rutz said.
“This is a special night,” Rutz added. She is one of several educators who picked up the torch from Cannon’s legacy after she retired: Others include: Evelyn Swift, Peg Viola, and Joan Slater.
During the program a short video was shown as a tribute to remember the lives of Bullock, student and former tribute program MC Troy Swift and Claire Weimmer, the former vice principal of the Manchester Middle School. Each were involved with the Gospel Chorus and the annual tribute program.
Trethaway noted in his closing words that Manchester was “a very special school district and a very special town. It has been an honor and I wish you all the best!”
