Mayor Delfino, who should hire himself out as a master of Public Ceremonies, should he ever stop being Mayor of White Plains,  always manages to lend an air of dignity and solemnity to these occasions, saying the right things and sounding sincere and meaningful. Today was no exception.

THE SCENE ON "BUMP STREET:" Reverend Lester Cousin enthralls crowd with Amazing Grace. Photo by WPCNR News

After the speeches extolling Mr. Robinson, tinged with a sense of loss of this community leader who preferred to listen and speak little, but with meaningful content, Reverend Lester Cousin sang a powerful version of Amazing Grace that drifted mightily over the throng. This was one of Reverend Cousin’s most touching performances as his voice seemed to drift up to “Bump” in that place where great leaders go.

It was a ceremony of remembrance, of leave-taking and commemorating in hopes that Mr. Robinson’s all too short life would be an inspiration to others. As this reporter is fond of saying, “It’s not what you say, it’s what you do.”

The Unveiling. Photo by WPCNR News

Mr. Robinson was a person who worked to get things done, not for himself, but for others.

Much of the credit for making this commemoration of Mr. Robinson possible was given to Ron Jackson, “The Last Activist,” who lobbied the Common Council and persuaded the Mayor to rename the street, according to Councilman Tom Roach.

Mr. Jackson told WPCNR Saturday night, he was very happy, and felt a sense of “closure.”

It was a good thing.

Now, if only the White Plains Hall of Fame Committee would  make Mr. Robinson the fifth inductee in the White Plains High School Hall of Fame, that would be a fitting completion of his legacy. Why the nominating committee did not automatically put Mr. Robinson in the Hall is a mystery. This year it would have been a final triumph and celebration of his life, and a sentimental, appropriate thing to do. And they could still do it, if they wanted to do so.