National King Memorial slated for beginning in Washington in 2003

Jet, March 18, 2002

Citing the establishment of an honorary Congressional Committee for the proposed Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, Harry E. Johnson, president of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, announced the ground-breaking exercises for the monument would take place in November of 2003.

Johnson said a panel of international architects and designers has selected the Memorial design created by the ROMA Group, based in San Francisco from among more than 900 design submissions.

President Bill Clinton signed a Congressional Resolution in 1998 that authorized a memorial for Dr. King to be built on the National Mall. The site was approved by the National Capital Planning Commission in 1999.

The foundation is a non-profit organization established by Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and authorized by Congress to raise the funds and build the memorial. The funds to build the project must be raised by November 2003 when the legislation expires.

Describing the Memorial as "the first to honor an African-American and an individual who did not serve as U.S. president," Johnson said, "It would represent a milestone for all Americans."

"It is our goal that generations to come will visit this site and be inspired by the message that one man can have a profound influence on the life of a people and a nation," said Johnson.