In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a 17-minute speech on the National Mall that would forever change history. His dream inspired a nation and united individuals of all races and creeds under a common vision.
This weekend – just over 48 years later – we are proud to celebrate alongside thousands in Washington, DC for the official unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial. The monument is the first in the U.S. dedicated to an African American and is located on a four-acre site where Dr. King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.
Our charter flight from Atlanta to our nation’s capitol will also be memorable as we’ll be joined by many Civil Rights leaders and their families. We’ll fly a very special Boeing 757-200 that bears the name of one of our distinguished onboard guests – Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, known as the Dean of the Civil Rights Movement (you may have seen last month when we surprised Rev. Dr. Lowery by dedicating the aircraft to him in honor of his life’s achievements and helped plan the celebration of his 90th birthday with the Atlanta community).
Also onboard will be several of the original Freedom Riders, who peacefully rode interstate buses into the segregated South to call attention to the Civil Rights movement. We’re proud to have raised more than $1.5 million to support the monument through the many generous donations from you as well as our employees, which makes this charter flight and our involvement with the memorial even more special.
So as we head for DC, we thank the many customers and employees who made this special celebration possible.
Scarlet Pressley-Brown
Director, External Affairs and Community Relations
Vice President, Delta Air Lines Foundation