By Dorinda White
(NNPA) On the anniversary of the historic actions of Rosa Parks on a bus in Montgomery, Ala., the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation showcased the progress of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project is 50 percent completed. It is situated on one of the most prestigious sites remaining on the National Mall.
“The Memorial will capture the essence of
King’s passion and vision for all to enjoy a life of freedom, opportunity, and justice,” said Harry Johnson, president and CEO of the Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation. “As such, it will serve as a stage to honor his national and international contributions to humankind, acknowledging his unbridled teachings for achieving social change through non-violent methods. The Memorial will remind the world of his dedication to the idea of achieving human dignity through global relationships, and instill a sense of duty within each of us to be responsible citizens and conscientious stewards of freedom and democracy.”
The foundation’s presentation highlighted how the entire site will look upon completion. A combination of inscribed granite walls and green space areas will surround the “Mountain of Despair” leading to the “Stone of Hope” and the imposing statute of King. Under the gray skies of Washington, D.C. with scaffolding surrounding it, the statute seemed ready to step forward out of the stone encasing it.
“The Memorial is a memorial to a man who was a citizen of the world whose messages of democracy, justice, hope and love transcended racial barriers and resonated around the globe,” Johnson said. “This was confirmed when he was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.”
Johnson reminded the audience that the fundraising for the memorial has not met its goal stating, “We have not met our fundraising goals, but the memorial project is moving ahead as scheduled. We hope that each American and those around the world will make a contribution towards the completion of this memorial. King touched lives on an international level and we know that in the end, those who believed in his words and actions will contribute to his memorial.
The press conference held on the site of the memorial included remarks from John T. Montford, GM chairman and co-chairman of the memorial foundation’s Executive Leadership Cabinet, Robert G. Stanton, senior advisor to the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior and Ed Jackson Jr., executive architect of the Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc.
For more information and to make a contribution, visit www.buildthedream.org.
