ATLANTA – Braving frigid temperatures, freezing rain, flight cancellations and delays, eight employees from Smithfield plants scattered throughout the southeast arrived in Atlanta to attend The King Center's gala birthday celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The 25th annual "Salute to Greatness" Awards Dinner was the premier event of the annual King holiday observance. Born on Jan. 15, 1929, King would have celebrated his 79th birthday. The event was held at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Atlanta and attracted nearly 2,000 supporters. The King Center is the institutional guardian of King's legacy and the driving force behind building national and international organizations that work toward building the "Beloved Community" that Dr. King envisioned.

Contributed photo (ENLARGE)

Smithfield Foods employee Leslie King of Rocky Mount shakes hands with Martin Luther King III.

"This was a chance for our employees to come and be a part of a celebration that has become truly an American celebration," said Smithfield Director of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Dennis Pittman.

The company participated in the awards dinner as a Dinner Table Host Sponsor. Pittman and Smithfield Foods' Director of Community Affairs Christine Eppstein were the company's representatives on the dais, sharing the stage with members of the King family and other dignitaries, including Andrew Young.

Young is a former Atlanta mayor, congressman and U.N. ambassador, and was accompanying King when he was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn.

Smithfield employee Leslie King of Rocky Mount attended the event.

Patricia Locklear, an employee at Smithfield's Tar Heel plant in North Carolina, said that it was an event she will never forget.

"It was a remarkable event," Locklear said. "I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to be a representative of Smithfield and attend the King Center's celebration of his birthday."

Smithfield employee Evelyn Frederick, who works at the company's plant in Clinton, said that she enjoyed the fellowship and the chance to meet people from around the world.

"I wish everybody could get this opportunity to come. It brings back to reality where we've been, where we've come to, and where we need to go," she said.

Priscilla Clark, who works at the Clinton plant, said it was a great experience.

"I really enjoyed it and learned a lot. I hope and pray that I can come back next year," she said.

Smithfield employees attended the event and were given the opportunity to pose for pictures with Young and Issac Farris, executive director of The King Center and nephew of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Later at the dinner table, employees had the opportunity to meet and have their pictures taken with Martin Luther King III; his sister the Rev. Bernice Albertine King, and Dr. King's only surviving sibling, Christine King Farris.

Following the dinner, people attended the AfterGlow Reception hosted by Mercedes Benz. There, guests were treated to sumptuous deserts and live music. It was at the reception that King, 50, and his wife, Arndrea, announced that they are expecting a child, making the whole evening an intimate family event as the Kings posed for pictures. It will be the first child born to any of Dr. King's children. At the close of the evening, there was an exciting prize drawing sponsored by Delta Airlines—a round-trip airline ticket to any destination in the world where Delta flies.

After the reception, Pittman had a chance to reflect on the evening's events.

"I think this was an excellent opportunity for Smithfield to show their support of the values that Dr. King stood for, and we are proud to have been involved in this project," Pittman said.