As we look back on the past few years and how our nation has grown increasingly divided, one wonders what kind of voice the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. might have brought to the discussion.

In the worst moments, his vision for this nation seemed as far away as ever. But the response to those moments often showed us at our best, and truly moving toward a “beacon light of hope to millions … who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice.”

In 1963, King told those who had marched in Washington, D.C., “And so we’ve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition. In a sense we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men — yes, black men as well as white men — would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Sixty years later, would King, still, say “It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned?” Would he, still, say that instead of honoring its sacred obligations, America had given a bad check?

The events of the past few years show us that for millions of people, the answer to that question is “yes.”

We still have a great deal of work to do. But as with all things, hope springs eternal.

It is commendable that in cities such as Wheeling, the community rallies together to mark King’s dream. The past few days have seen marches, educational sessions, and honors bestowed upon those who help to build bridges in our region. But that effort must not be just for a weekend; we must continue it every day.

There still is a great deal of listening and learning from one another to do. We must heal, we must move forward, and we must turn forever from the way things have always been, instead marching toward the great promise of what could be.