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Dunbar Center, Weirton museum to celebrate King’s legacy

WEIRTON — Dunbar Recreation Center will celebrate its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. March on Monday.

The walk will begin at 11 a.m. at Christ the King Worship Center on Weir Avenue and end at the center, located at 300 Kressel St. at the corner of Weir Avenue and Kressel Street.

Following the march, a light lunch will be served.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the yearly program will not be a part of the observance. Social distancing guidelines will be followed, and participants are asked to wear masks. For those who do not have a mask, one will be provided.

For informaton, contact Earlean Jones, president, at (304) 748-7834.

The Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center, meanwhile, will celebrate the civil rights leader’s life and legacy through its permanent exhibitions and by inviting the community to participate in the walk. The WAMCC will be closed during the walk so that museum staff and volunteers can take part, according to Savannah Schroll Guz, its executive director.

The museum will reopen, however, at 1 p.m. and remain open until 5:30 p.m. so visitors can view the exhibits, particularly the Dr. Anthony J. Major display. Guz explained that it offers a visual and historical profile of a man who received the Sharing of Self Award from the Martin Luther King Jr. State Holiday Commission in 2015.

Before Major’s death on Dec. 20,1949, at the age of 50, he, like King,was instrumental to many community improvement organizations, Guz noted. Major spearheaded, for example, the organizational development in 1932 and eventual physical construction in 1939 of Dunbar High School. He also was the Dunbar PTA trustee who directed the building of the Dunbar Recreation Center, which hosted many famous speakers and became a vital, tri-state-serving community hub from December 1944 onward.

On the walk and within the museum, all COVID-19 social distancing guidelines will be followed, and per guidelines issued by Gov. Jim Justice, masks must be worn inside the museum, Guz emphasized. “At the museum entrance, we offer a hand sanitizing station. The Dunbar Recreation Center board also asks that masks be worn during the walk,” she said.

The Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center is located at 3149 Main St. and is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is $5 for adults, but free for children who must be accompanied by an adult. WAMCC preserves Weirton’s history and culture for future generations. To learn about upcoming exhibitions and events, follow WAMCC on Facebook at “Weirton Area Museum & Cultural Center” or visit the web site at www.weirtonareamuseum.com.

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