I visited the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial shortly after its groundbreaking in August of 2011. It was incredibly moving to see the “Stone of Hope” up close and to read the meaningful inscriptions on the north and west walls. The “Stone of Hope” is made of solid granite, aptly symbolizing “the steadfast resolve of an entire generation to achieve a fair and honest society”.
One of my Stepfather’s childhood friends from Iowa, who later became a Reverend, marched with Dr. King from Selma to Montgomery. Meeting a “marcher” and civil rights activist in person was a privilege and very significant to me.
Tantamount with Dr. King are words such as legacy, freedom, diversity and tolerance. As we celebrate his birthday, I remain grateful for his bravery, which paved the way for a deeper understanding of civil liberties. We have come very far and have a lot of work to do but this understanding continues to lead us the right direction.
“The time is always right to do what is right”
A visit to D.C. would not be complete without spending time at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. The memorial is part of the National Mall and Memorial Parks and is located at the intersection of Independence Ave and West Basin Drive SW.