On the evening the first black president of the United States gave his farewell address, Loretta Byrd prepared to honor the man who paved the way for President Barack Obama and countless others.

“He didn’t look to just one race, he was looking for the unity of all races to come together. I’m so grateful for all he did,” Byrd said before rehearsing with United Fellowship Community Choir for events honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The choir, along with an ensemble of dancers and musicians, will honor King at a 3 p.m. Sunday service at Oak Harbor’s House of Prayer, 3143 Goldie Road.

The group also performed Friday at the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

Lillian Hibbert-Vester, a sixth-grader at Oak Harbor Middle School, is just learning of the legacy of King who was killed April 4, 1968.

“I know he was a civil rights leader and he was fighting for our rights,” said Hibbert-Vester, an alto in the choir. This is her second time participating in MLK events.

Fannie Dean, long-time organizer of local King celebrations and pastor of Mission Ministry Outreach, said Sunday’s service is open to all.

“We do it on the spiritual side at that celebration,” she said. “We do it deep on Sunday.”

The quotation of King chosen for this year’s celebration — “We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope” — seemed apt for the current state of political discord and division, Dean said.

Monday, St. Augustine’s Episcopal Peace Fellowship in Freeland will feature interactive readings, music and a guest speaker.

Called “Blessed Are the Peace Makers,” the community celebration will focus on those who sacrificed their lives during the Selma Voting Rights Campaign of the early 1960s, said organizer Dick Hall.

Footage of King’s speeches will be interspersed with Obama’s 2008 Election Night victory speech.

“We’re taking the theme of the movement and tying into current issues,” Hall said.

The celebration begins at 1 p.m. Monday at St. Augustine’s In-The-Woods Episcopal Church, 5217 S. Honeymoon Bay Road, Freeland.

Darreyl Boyles, 9, sings with his father, Charles Boyles III (in front of drums) and Tyrone Vester at practice for the United Fellowship Community Church choir. They will perform 3 p.m. Sunday at the House of Prayer in Oak Harbor at an annual event honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. Photo by Patricia Guthrie/Whidbey News-Times