TRULY WORTHY OF Dr.

KING.

BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE REGULARS, YOU KNOW HOW SPECIAL THIS MOMENT IS.

AT GENERAL MILLS, WE TALK ABOUT NOURISHING LIVES.

THIS IS THE MOMENT WHEN WE NOURISH SOULS.

IF YOU'RE LIKE ME, YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THIS EVENT EVERY YEAR.

I USED TO THINK MAYBE IT WAS THE MESSAGE THAT CAME FROM THE SPEAKER OR THE MUSIC FROM THE WONDERFUL ENTERTAINERS THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE YEARS, BUT I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT IT TRULY IS THE COLLECTIVE.

ASSEMBLED TODAY, WE HAVE 2,000 SOULS.

WE'RE JOINED EVERY TELECAST, VIA TWIN CITIES PUBLIC TELEVISION WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHERS AT THE SATELLITE LOCATIONS IN St.

PAUL, IN DULUTH AND IN WISCONSIN.

IT'S THAT POWER, THAT REENERGIZING, REJUVENATING POWER THAT COMES FROM FELLOWSHIP WITH PEOPLE THAT SHARE YOUR VALUES AND SHARE YOUR COMMITMENT, THAT MAKES THIS MOMENT SPECIAL.

THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT WE CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF Dr.

MARLIN LUTHER KING.

APPLAUSE [ Applause ].

>> YOU KNOW, IS THE MEASURE OF THE MAN THAT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN 79 THIS YEAR IF HE HAD REMAINED WITH US, OR THAT IT'S ALMOST 40 YEARS SINCE HE WAS TRAGICALLY CUT SHORT.

THE DATE THAT COMES TO MIND FOR ME IS DECEMBER 2nd, 19 55.

THAT WAS THE FATEFUL DAY IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA, WHEN A GROUP OF BLACK MINISTERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS ELECTED Dr.

KING TO LEAD THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT.

MARTIN WAS A YOUNG MAN, NEW TO TOWN, RECENTLY MARRIED, HIS DAUGHTER, WHY LAP DA -- YOLANDA WAS LESS THAN TWO MONTHS OLD.

SHE PASSED JUST THIS YEAR.

BUT WHEN THE PASTORS ASKED HIM TO TAKE UP THE FIGHT FOR PEOPLE HE DIDN'T KNOW IN A CITY THAT WASN'T HIS OWN, HE ANSWERED THE CALL.

DESPITE HIS AGE, DESPITE HIS CIRCUMSTANCES, HE ANSWERED THE CALL AND THE WORLD WAS CHANGED FOREVER.

WE LIVE IN A DAY WHEN WE HAVE MANY WHO ARE ABLE BUT UNWILLING.

Dr.

KING WAS ABLE.

HE WAS WILLING.

HE WAS WILLING TO MAKE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR THOSE FOR THOSE VALUES HE BELIEVED IN, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUALITY SO WE CAN ALL LIVE WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY.

SUPPORT FOR THOSE IN NEED WHETHER THEY BE CALLED OR HUNGRY OR IN FEAR.

RESOLVING OUR CONFLICTS THROUGH PEACEFUL MEANS RATHER THAN VIOLENCE.

AS WE LOOK TO HIS LEGACY, IT'S NOT JUST CELEBRATING THE MAN AND ALL THAT HE'S ACCOMPLISHED, IT'S ALSO CELEBRATING HIS IDEALS.

HIS PHILOSOPHIES ARE EVERGREEN AND THE CHALLENGE THAT AWAITS US TODAY IS HOW WE MAKE THOSE IDEALS MEANINGFUL TO OURSELVES AND TO OUR CHILDREN.

OUR WORLD IS NOT AT PEACE.

WE CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH INEQUALITY.

HOW DO WE EMPLOY Dr.

KING'S TOOL KIT AND FOLLOW HIS BLUEPRINT TO BRING MEANINGFUL CHANGE?

WE RECOGNIZE THE OBLIGATION TO FULFILL Dr.

KING'S LEGACY, THAT IS WHAT TODAY'S CELEBRATION IS ALL ABOUT.

WE ASK MORE THAN YOUR ATTENTION BUILT YOUR PARTICIPATION AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE MORNING, WE'LL EXPLORE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR TO YOU ANSWER THE CALL AS Dr.

KING DID.