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Alexandria honored the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 15 with its 52nd annual commemorative program, celebrating the civil rights leader on what would have been his 96th birthday.

The gathering at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial centered on the theme “Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice and Democracy.”

“Our mission is clear,” Mayor Alyia Gaskins said. “Dr. King told us years ago that the mission before us is for each of us to work together, to work collectively and to work for a more just, equitable and inclusive society.”

Alexandria’s Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Planning Committee began the program in 1973, a decade before President Ronald Reagan signed legislation recognizing King’s birthday as a federal holiday in 1983.

Clergy from across Alexandria opened the event with the traditional Procession of Faiths. The Rev. Robin Anderson of Commonwealth Baptist Church delivered the invocation, and Jackson Caesar performed “Still I Rise/A Change is Gonna Come.”

Sen. Tim Kaine, who was 10 when King was assassinated, reflected on the lasting relevance of King’s words.

“What is so worthy to commemorate every year about King is his writing,” Kaine said. “His preaching and advocacy was so broad that in different moments in life there’s always something that he said that matches up with the moment.”

Program chair Rosa Byrd and the committee also recognized Lawrence Robinson for more than 50 years of service. Byrd and Robinson have both been named Living Legends of Alexandria for their contributions to the community.

Robinson, 94, was among the committee’s original members in 1973. He announced that this would be his final year serving with the group.

“There was no federal holiday back then, but we just had to make sure that people didn’t forget who King was and what he did,” Robinson said.

Byrd pledged that the committee’s work would continue.

“We will keep this dream alive,” she said.