Rev. Martin Guest Speaker at 34th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

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FRAMINGHAM – The 34th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, hosted by Greater Framingham Community Church, will be virtual in 2021.

The event is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Monday, January 18 and can be viewed on Access Framingham – Comcast channel 9, RCH 3 and Verizon 43.

The keynote speaker this year will be Rev. Timothy Martin is an ordained minister and pastor for the New Patriots Christian Congregation located in Fitchburg.

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Rev. Martin served in the U.S. Army for 20-plus years. His assignments included Germany, Hawaii, Korea, Fort Ord California, Panama, Bosnia, Hungary, Sarajevo and Fort Devens. Rev. Martin served as a denominational lay leader/Pastor in Germany, Hawaii, and Fort Ord, CA. He retired from the U.S. Army in May of 2005.

Rev. Martin now serves as a Department of Defense civilian employee for the U.S. Air Force as the administrative technician for the 66th Security Forces Squadron Commander at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts.

“Rev. Martin has been performing, in character, the MLK speech since 1997 where for the first time in a crowded theatre in Manheim Germany he performed this speech that brought many to tears. The impact was so powerful that many felt as if they were reliving that moment there on the Washington Memorial where Dr. King first delivered this profound speech back in 1963. It was then that Rev. Martin realized that this could be his way of keeping the MLK dream and vision for all Americans alive. Rev. Martin has performed for numerous military installations, colleges, high schools, churches and groups throughout New England and abroad,” according to GFCC.

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Rev. Martin is an Honorary member of the Central Massachusetts Board of Education participating in community and military based programs throughout the country.

Martin was twice nominated for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award for 2003 and 2004. This award is presented to outstanding military personnel of both Actives and Reserve Components who had made significant contributions to civil rights and the tenets of Equal Opportunity in the services and in their communities. He was twice nominated for the Chief of Staff of the Air Force Volunteer Excellence Award for 2008 and 2010.

The Emcee for the event is Kwani A. Lunis is currently the Social Media Producer and a Digital Host at NBC 10 Boston/ NECN. Before that she worked at NBC Sports Boston as the Social Media Coordinator & Social Media Correspondent on the Emmy Award-winning show Quick Slants. She got her start in the industry her Junior year of college when she had the opportunity to intern for an early-morning sports radio show at WEEI in Boston. Kwani is a Boston College alumni.

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