The Leon Day Foundation Rides in the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration Parade in Baltimore Monday, January 19, 2004

Baltimore celebrates the birth of one of America's greatest leaders with this fourth annual parade, featuring high school marching bands, community bands, floats, equestrian units, choirs and specialty units.

The grand marshal is NAACP President and Chief Executive Officer Kweisi MFume. Also attending were Governor Bob Ehrlich, Lt. Governor Michael Steele, Mayor Martin O’Malley and many other Baltimore and Maryland dignitaries.

See photos from our scrapbook on this page showing Dr. Bob Hieronimus driving his classic 1976 Silver Shadow Rolls Royce transporting Mrs. Geraldine Day, widow of Hall of Fame baseball player, Leon Day, plus other officials with the Leon Day Foundation. The Limousine behind carried Bert Simmons, one of the few surviving players from the major league Negro Baseball Leagues (Simmons was a pitcher for the Baltimore Elite Giants), and other officials with the Leon Day Foundation. The young athletes carrying the Leon Day Foundation banner are all participants of the Leon Day Little League (both baseball and football) which they practice at Leon Day Park in downtown Baltimore. The purpose of the Leon Day Foundation is to give recognition and exposure to a group of talented baseball players by teaching the youth of today the same basic principals of these players who were never acknowledged. The foundation helps provide support in self-esteem, ethics, morals, self-discipline and social responsiblities through organized sports and by way of community out-reach services. For more information on the Leon Day Foundation and how you can help, contact Ray Banks at 410-866-4815 or Rich Harris at 410-995-5576. For more info on the Negro League Baseball era, visit http://www.nlbpa.com.

This year, the parade honors ambition with the theme, "Celebrating Minority Entrepreneurship."

The parade steps off at Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Eutaw Street, travels south on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, and disbands between Baltimore Street and Washington Avenue.

Located at the intersection between Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Franklin Street.

In honor of this year's theme, "Celebrating Minority Entrepreneurship," the Children's Church of Morning Star Baptist Church of Christ carries signs and wears costumes reflecting their professional and career aspirations. The Girl Scouts of Central Maryland Service Unit 67 represent the famous young entrepreneurs of the cookie business. The Station North Thrift Store's float depicts how through training and opportunity, a person can rise to their full potential. The Great Blacks in Wax Museum presents their float, "Preserving the Past; Building the Future." The Baltimore Chapter of the National Organization for Women honors their continued struggle for women's rights. The United Horsemen's Association promotes black pride and the contributions made by black cowboys.