Initiated by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. more than 20 years ago, propelled by the foundation they created for their goal and with the ultimate approval of Congress, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial is now a reality. Located in West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., the monument opened to the public Aug. 22.
Dr. King is the first African-American (and non-president) to have a major monument built in his honor along the National Mall. Hurricane Irene might have postponed the official dedication scheduled for Aug. 28, the 48th anniversary of the “I Have a Dream” speech to Oct. 16, but just like King’s legacy, the memorial is here to stay.
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| Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial in Washington, D.C.; photo provided |
If you don’t live in the D.C. area, yet want to feel connected to this historical moment, maybe there's an MLK memorial or landmark close to your area. Hopefully, I can get to D.C. soon, but in the meantime I decided to visit the memorial closest to me, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Landmark Memorial on North Flagler Drive in Currie Park in West Palm Beach, Fla. Completed in 2004, it’s positioned right along the Intracoastal Waterway.
Behind the bust of Dr. King reading the Holy Bible is a granite wall with continuous running water. On the opposite side, is a concrete wall with engraved excerpts of his speeches, along with a timeline of his life. There are also flagpoles flying international flags, noting the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s global influence. (The Washington Post recently published an article listing sites around the globe that honor him. Read here)
Below are photos I took today of West Palm Beach's MLK memorial, using my iPhone.
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| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Landmark Memorial on North Flagler Drive in Currie Park in West Palm Beach, Fla. |
