EDITORIAL: Perseverance and patience finally pays off

"He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land."

— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Wednesday, at the groundbreaking for the Filmore Thomas Recreation Center, named for a tireless soldier who fought for the people of his community, his son, Harold Thomas, honored his father saying, "On behalf of all of us. I want to give my sincere thanks and appreciation especially for the Bellevue Concerned Citizens group ... for naming the park after my father."

It was a long slog that seemed to show little if any progress. There would be rays of hope followed by nothing, but now, the funds, $1.7 million, have been secured, and a recreation area with walking trails, basketball courts and pavilions will fill a space that was once off limits to African-Americans. While the new recreation area is named after Thomas, this is a success story for an entire community and a lesson for all in perseverance and patience. If Mr. Thomas was still with us, he'd be smiling.

This story was originally published December 17, 2015 at 9:03 PM with the headline "EDITORIAL: Perseverance and patience finally pays off ."