Dr. King, new role models honored at Springfield flag raising

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The city of Springfield honored the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Friday.

Dr. King would have been 84 years old this week, and to mark the occasion, many leaders in the African-American community of western Massachusetts came to City Hall for a flag raising ceremony.

Fifth graders from the Springfield's Martin Luther King Charter School of Excellence spoke of receiving inspiration from both Dr. King and President Barack Obama.

The students looked ahead to the Presidential inaugural on Monday. Isaiah McKoy told 22News of the impact the president has had on him

“He made me think I want to be a lawyer when I grow up. He made me think I want to do great things like being a lawyer,” McKoy said.

Their teacher, April Robinson, told 22News that she hopes to still be around when her students achieve their goals inspired by Dr. King and President Obama.

“I want to say I'm still living and I see Isaiah make a dream come true, and I played a part in it. And I can say my job is well done,” Robinson said,

Prior to the flag raising, newly-elected Governors Councilor and former Springfield Mayor Michael Albano swore-in NAACP President Talbert Swan for a second term of leading the organization’s Springfield chapter.