Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major for Peace Award Nomination Form
The Bowling Green Human Relations Commission is seeking nominations to recognize local individuals for the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major for Peace Award. This award is to highlight significant efforts by persons who further the betterment of human relations in the Bowling Green community by actively promoting justice, peace, and respect.
The spirit of this award is captured in this excerpt from Dr. King’s "Drum Major Instinct" sermon, given on February 4, 1968. It is an adaptation of the 1952 homily, ‘‘Drum-Major Instincts,’’ by J. Wallace Hamilton, a well-known liberal white Methodist preacher. King encouraged his congregation to seek greatness, but to do so through service and love. King concluded the sermon by imagining his own funeral, downplaying his famous achievements and emphasizing his heart to do right.
“If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don’t want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. And every now and then I wonder what I want them to say. Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize — that isn’t important. Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred other awards — that's not important. Tell them not to mention where I went to school.
I'd like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others.
I'd like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody.
I want you to say that day that I tried to be right on the war question.
I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry.
And I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked.
I want you to say on that day that I did try in my life to visit those who were in prison.
I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity.“