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Martin Luther King Jr. Day event at South Nassau Communities Hospital preaches ‘R-E-S-P-E-C-T’

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Town of Hempstead Senior Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby and late renowned musical artist and civil rights activist Aretha Franklin were honored Monday during South Nassau Communities Hospital’s 11th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration.

Goosby has served on the town board for the past nine years. On Monday, employees at South Nassau gathered to celebrate Goosby’s recognition and to honor King’s life and mission through praise, prayer, tribute, song, reflection and nostalgia. Franklin, known as the “Queen of Soul,” was also honored and the event was dubbed “R-E-S-P-E-C-T,” in recognition of her hit song “Respect,” which rose to great popularity after its release in 1967.

The event began with a performance of “Lean on Me” from South Nassau’s Florence Nightingales before Karine Austin welcomed guests. Pastor James E. Stewardth led an opening prayer and Rita Regan paid tribute to Franklin, who died on Aug. 16, 2018, at 76, after living a life of activism.

After Franklin was honored, Arnaud Edjamian performed a spoken word rendition of “Respect,” with musical accompaniment from Akai Ramsey and Caine Reed, while Tijuana Evans performed an interpretive dance. After that, Sherry Wright led a tribute to King and Eileen Sino honored Goosby. Charmaine Brereton shared closing remarks and “We are the World” was the final song to close the ceremony.