Washington Dc Unveils It’s Newest Monument

Washington DC, despite all current counts to the contrary, does occasionally get it right — in the creation of memorials.  The National Mall is littered with giant monuments and structures, commemorating the great leaders of the United States past.  Wandering up and down the immense grassy lawn, it is actually quite astonishing to note just how successful these installations have been.  Rarely putting a step wrong, each memorial does exactly as it was proposed; commemorating the intended person or event in a tasteful, even grandiose manner.  The beauty of these edifices gives credit to a city and a country in serious need of it.

Almost accordingly, the newest addition to the collection of monuments will be revealed on Sunday, August 28th.  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the famed civil rights leader and advocate of peaceful resistance, will be forever remembered with the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.  The purported $120 million structure (a seemingly extravagent undertaking in these lean times, though the construction started before the economic implosion) includes a 30-foot-tall sculpture of King and covers four acres of land.  The surrounding walls are etched with a few of Kings more notable quotables.  

Overlooking the rippling Tidal Basin, the newest gem on the neck of DC will be revealed in a star-studded ceremony the evening of the 28th.  Several legendary persons will be performing, including Stevie Wonder and Arethra Franklin.  The event will begin at 10 pm, with a speech by President Obama.  It is free to attend, but unfortunately all tickets, issued by a lottery system, have been sold out.  However, several DC hotels have been offering standing room only packages for that weekend.  Be sure to check out the Washington DC MLK, Jr. Memorial website for further information.

For those who were/are unable to obtain tickets, another option is available; the BET and CENTRIC networks will be airing the ceremony live.  BET will also be commemorating the event with a series of new programs detailing MLK, Jr.’s life and works.  Programming on BET begins at 7 pm.