King's widow asks for peace in his memory

ATLANTA - The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.&#39;s widow Monday urged world leaders to settle their differences peacefully and avoid a painful war. <br> <br> Coretta Scott King told the packed crowd of about 1,000 at Ebenezer Baptist Church to honor the memory of King on the celebration of what would have been his 74th birthday. Her comments came as the United States is considering military action against Iraq. <br> <br> ``We commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. as a great champion of peace who warned us that war was a poor chisel for carving out a peaceful tomorrow,&#39;&#39; King said. ``We must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means. Martin said &#39;True peace is not just the absence of tension, it is the presence of justice.&#39;&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The daylong celebration of King&#39;s birthday was marked with memorials, church services and reflection across the nation. The ceremony at Ebenezer Baptist Church was opened with songs and hymns, including ``The Star Spangled Banner&#39;&#39; and ``Lift Every Voice and Sing.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Sen. Zell Miller of Georgia referred to King as a ``native son of Georgia who changed my life, the life of my grandson and your life ... and the life of an entire nation, indeed the world, for the better. We must never forget that one person, only one person can make a difference.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Miller, a Democrat, said King was a leader whose dreams still inspire people worldwide every day. <br> <br> ``As we pause on this day to remember this great and noble man, let us all ask ourselves again the question ... What are you doing for others?&#39;&#39; Miller said. <br> <br> The annual King Day march was planned for the afternoon, and the King Center hosted thousands who remembered King&#39;s contributions to civil rights and racial harmony. <br> <br> More than 15,000 people are expected to eat at the Hosea Williams Feed the Hungry dinner at Turner Field. Williams was one of King&#39;s first lieutenants in the civil rights battle, who died in 2000, after a battle with cancer. <br> <br> Several universities held commemorative speeches Monday, and volunteer groups recruited people to help in the community.

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