MLK Memorial Dream Soon to Be a Reality

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28, 2006 — -- When President Bill Clinton authorized the building of a national memorial to honor Martin Luther King Jr. in 1998, the vision was still just a dream for the civil rights leader's fraternity brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha.

Now, eight years later, that dream is just months away from becoming a reality.

Today the 43rd anniversary of the march on Washington and King's "I Have a Dream" speech, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation announced it has raised $63.3 million for the memorial. A total of $100 million is needed to complete the project.The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 13.

"We're excited that it's coming to fruition," foundation president and CEO Harry E. Johnson Sr. said. "We expect construction to begin around February or March, when the weather breaks."

Adding star power to the project, NBA star Chris Webber and "Days of Our Lives" actor James Reynolds attended the press conference held this morning on the site of the future memorial.

"This is a tremendous healing moment," Reynolds said. "It signifies a nation that has finally joined 'by the content of their character.'"

Today the foundation launched a traveling billboard in hopes of gaining more exposure and attracting more contributions for the memorial.

It also announced the first 12 winners of the Kids for King national youth essay program. In all, 50 essay winners from around the country will be flown to Washington for November's groundbreaking ceremony.

The King memorial will stand on the National Mall at the east end of the Tidal Basin, in direct line with the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials. The four-acre tribute will be the first on the National Mall to honor a person of color and the first to honor an individual who was not president.

According to the Memorial Foundation, the memorial will convey three fundamental and recurring themes from King's life: democracy, justice and hope. The centerpiece of the memorial, called the Stone of Hope, will include a 30-foot likeness of King.