The works and teachings of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were honored Monday.

New York State's annual memorial was held in the Empire State Plaza Convention Center. It began with a "Be a King" Volunteer Fair, encouraging people to imitate King by pledging themselves to help a range of causes.

Tony Award-winning Broadway star Lillias White performed.

Former New York Giants running back Rashad Jennings offered the keynote speech. He quoted from a message from Dr. King, in which the leader, before he was shot dead in 1968, pondered how he wanted to be remembered. Jennings urged his audience to follow King's example.

Spectrum News' JoDee Kenney helped host this year's observance.