Students from across Spring Valley filled Ramapo High School with music, marching and powerful messages on Monday during the annual celebration to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy.

The event brought together elementary and high school students for performances that highlighted King’s enduring values of unity, justice, service and love for humanity.

“Today we are here not only to honor the legacy of Dr. King, but to recommit ourselves to the values he championed,” said Anthony Burrows, a board member of the MLK Multipurpose Center in Spring Valley.

The event marked the 16th annual celebration sponsored by the Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center. Along with remembering the past, organizers also looked to the future by announcing a New York State grant that will help the center build new athletic facilities and expand programming for local youth.

“This investment is about giving our children and their families spaces that reflect their worth and their potential,” said Assemblyman Aron Wieder. “When you see the kids, it melts your heart.”

The celebration closed with singing, dancing and a reminder of King’s message: the time is always right to do what is right.