The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. worked hard to make a better America for everyone, speakers at two local King Day observances said.

Dr. Dorothy Cooke of Gloucester, a local educator and historian, told about 100 people gathered at the First United Baptist Church Monday afternoon that many people still strive to "live the dream" of equality that King fought so hard for. That program was sponsored by the Gloucester Union Relief Association of Missionary Baptist.

Meanwhile, Rev. Joshua A. Harris was the featured speaker at the Mathews Branch NAACP’s King Day observance held Sunday afternoon at Wayland Baptist Church, Beaverlett. Harris, pastor-elect at First Baptist Church in Mathews, said that "we need more than a dream," calling on the approximately 125 people on hand to continue to work for improved conditions for all people.

In Gloucester, Cooke urged the audience to "explore your options" in trying to make improvements in their lives and th...