Unity Fellowship is going the extra mile to keep the dream alive with two distinguished guest speakers to help recognize the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday.

The group always hosts a community service in honor of the late civil rights leader, but this year has reached out with special speakers.

“We don’t want the dream to die,” added Effie Boyles, who is helping organize the celebration.

Speaking Friday, Jan. 14, at 7 a.m., in the galley of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station will be U.S. Navy Cmdr. Laurell A. Brault.

Originally from Nassau, Bahamas, Brault enlisted in the Navy in 1974, starting out as a hospital corpsman for 10 years, and then graduating from Officer Candidate School.

After much travel and many assignments of increasing importance, Brault became the ninth commanding officer of Naval Ocean Processing Facility Whidbey Island May 27, 2004.

Her decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, six Navy Commendation Medals, two Navy Achievement Medals, and other personal and unit awards.

Brault has a master’s degrees in education leadership and library and information services.

Speaking Sunday, Jan. 16, at 3:30 p.m. at House of Hope, 620 A Erin Park, Oak Harbor (off Goldie Road) will be Larry Gossett, a member of the Metropolitan King County Council.

A Seattle native, Gossett is one of the founders of the Black Student Union at the University of Washington. He was the first supervisor of the Black Student Division, office of Minority Affairs. He served two years as a Vista Volunteer and has long been an advocate for programs to help inner-city youth.

Gossett is known as a dynamic speaker and prolific writers, as well as an administrator and political activist.

Gossett is chair of the Budget & Fiscal Management Committee and vice chair of the Employment Committee of the King County Council. From 1979 through 1993 he was the executive director of the Central Area Motivation Program (CAMP), one of the oldest community action agencies in Seattle.

Both speakers’ presentations are open to the community.

In addition to Gossett, the Sunday service will feature local dignitaries such as the mayor, police chief and other leaders.

“We want the community to come out and support our celebration,” said Fanny Dean, a pastor at Unity Fellowship.

Dean is recovering from heart surgery, but she’s putting a lot of energy into this effort. “I don’t have energy to do a lot of things but Iv’e got energy for Dr. King,” she said.

Oak Harbor has held an annual celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. since 1975 when the Black Citizens Association organized the event. Pastor Dean said most of the founders of that organization have retired, and Unity Fellowship has taken the responsiblilty.

The official Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday is Monday, Jan. 17 when schools and government offices will be closed in his honor.