HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Two days of celebration and music have come to end with the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. events in Hutchinson.

It concluded Monday with the Rev. Dr. Leroy Adams, who visited Hutchinson for the events both Sunday and Monday and gave passionate and inspirational talks both days. The Rev. Adams is the pastor of the Morning Star Baptist Church in Omaha, Neb.

He talked Monday of how Dr. King was a difference maker, then noted that when Jesus came to this earth, died on the cross and rose again was a difference maker. He then told those in attendance to turn to their neighbor and challenge them to be a difference maker.

He also said that Dr. King fought for everyone, not just African Americans. He told the gathering that Dr. King was an American who happened to be black.

The music at the event was again a highlight Monday with the Buhler Varsity Choir and Buhler Singers, the Trinity Catholic High School Singers and the HCC Badinage who once again sang with Dr. Hence Parsons, a former teacher at Hutchinson Community College.

There were other speakers as well, including Dr. Ed Berger, who has been a supporter of the events to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King for over 20 years. He is currently seeking the Republican nomination for State Senate, running against incumbent Terry Bruce. Others speaking included State Representative Jan Pauls, Hutchinson Mayor Jade Piros de Carvalho and Reno County Commission Chair Dan Deming. Also speaking was Hutchinson Police Chief Dick Heitschmidt, who told of his monthly meeting with Hence Parsons and local leader of the Hutchinson Branch of the NAACP, Darrell Pope, in effort to keep the lines of communication and trust going over issues concerning the community.

The event Monday was held at the Second Missionary Baptist Church at 1008 N. Ford to a nearly packed house.