The Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation’s leadership today announced the ceremonial dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial will be held on Sunday, October 16. The Dedication program will begin at 9 a.m. in West Potomac Park. President Barack Obama, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, members of the King Family, and civil rights leaders are expected to participate. The Dedication, originally planned for August 28, the 48th anniversary of the March on Washington and Dr. King’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech, was postponed due to Hurricane Irene.
“We are very pleased that the Memorial is now open to the public and to date has welcomed thousands of visitors from around the globe. We are overjoyed to announce October 16th as Dedication Day. Many have worked so long to help build this dream – a Memorial to Dr. King and his legacy,” said Harry E. Johnson, Sr., president and CEO of the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. “Due to the postponement, we are planning an event much smaller in scale but just as big in spirit.”
There will be limited, reserved seating for the official Dedication party inside the forecourt of the Memorial. The West Potomac Park viewing site is open to the public and tickets are not required. Media credentialing information will be released early next week. Previously issued media credentials are no longer valid. Visit www.DedicatetheDream.org for the most up-to-date information about the Dedication. The General Motors Foundation and Chevrolet will serve as Dedication Chair and Dedication Co-Chair is The Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation. Dedication Vice Chairs include Aetna, Boeing, BP, Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, GE, MacFarlane Partners, McDonalds, Salamander Hotels, Travelers, Wal-Mart Stores, and Zoilëmax Foundation.
About the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc.
A Memorial honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will be dedicated on October 16, 2011. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is on the National Mall, situated adjacent to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, and in a direct line between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. Congress passed a Joint Resolution in 1996 authorizing Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. to establish a Memorial in Washington, D.C. honoring Dr. King. McKissack & McKissack/ Turner Construction Company/Tompkins Builders, Inc./Gilford Corporation Joint Venture served as the Design-Build Team. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.buildthedream.org .
