In 1964, spurred to action> by the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, a group of Vineyard residents from all walks of life and all ethnicities joined together to carry on the charge for change and hope the president had urged. They held their initial meetings at St. Andrew’s Episcopal church in Edgartown and quickly became the first and only Island chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

On Thursday morning, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, children and grandchildren of original group members, students from the high school and the current NAACP gathered in the church to sing together and reflect upon the changes which we, as a community, have overcome. The event started with welcomes from the Rev. Robert D. Edmunds and Dr. Elaine Weintraub.

“Bravery takes a lot of forms,” Ms. Weintraub told the crowd. “A lot of us miss the opportunity a million times a day to be brave.”

Members of the high school chorus joined their voices in unison. The event ended with the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the site as the 20th along the African American Heritage Trail of Martha’s Vineyard.

“Today we honor the struggle and process of reconciliation in this community,” Dr. Weintraub told those gathered.

— Julia Rappaport