Dr. and Mrs. F.D. Reese were present for the celebration of the grand opening of F.D. Reese Academy in Kokomo, Ind., Aug. 8-10. The celebration began Saturday with a musical praise and worship program at Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church.

On Sunday, Dr. Reese, who was introduced by the Rev. L.E. Anderson Jr. Mount Pisgah morning worship, spoke on “The Preached Word.” On Monday morning Dr. Reese cut the ribbon to open the F.D. Reese Christian Academy and after a reception in his honor, classes began.

Members of Mount Pisgah began planning for the school in 2006, with a vision of a Christian academy “where the Bible, a foreign language and a true sense of blacks in history would be part of the curriculum,” Reese said. The academy was born Oct. 12, 2008.

It is an elementary institution to equip students to strive for academic excellence and fostert a love of learning, providing a Christ-centered education. It accepts students who are willing to accept faith’s doctrinal and philosophical statements without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin.

The school is named for Reese, Anderson said, “because he is a living legend. He is a pioneer of the civil rights movement, a man who marched side by side with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and stood his ground, remaining faithful to the pursuit of liberties to all mankind.

In Alabama, a three-mile stretch on Highway 80 East, the route of the Selma to Montgomery march, is named in his honor as the Fredrick D. Chase Parkway. He has also served as president of the Dallas County Voters League, a high school principal and assistant to the superintendent of education in Selma, having served for 12 years on the Selma City Council and on the Economic Opportunity Board.

He was also a state director for Alabama Bigger and Better Business.

Reese and Anderson are inviting those who believe in the F.D. Reese Christian Academy to distribute a recurring weekly, monthly, quarterly or annual monetary gift, with the amount of any gift welcome.

For more information about the academy, visit the Web site at www.fdrca.org.