January 16, 2009
Happy Birthday, Dr. King
Mayor Phil Gordon
We've gathered so often over the years. In good times and in bad. In celebration and in disappointment. Together, we met Coretta Scott King.
We sang with Stevie Wonder and stood with Rosa Parks. We walked side by side and marched a thousand deep. We laughed together. We cried together.
We honored our past and prayed for our future.
It's been a remarkable ride. But it's never been anything like this.
Without any doubt -- using any measure -- these next few days will be the most exciting times of our lives.
And intensely proud moments for us all.
Three days from now America will officially celebrate the 80th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And in just fourdays (not that anyone's counting) but in four days -- well, you know what happens in four days.
Here's what I know. When Barack Obama places his left hand on the very same Bible used by Abraham Lincoln when he became President, Dr. King will be standing right next to him. He'll be up on that platform looking out over a country he helped to see a new light and a brighter future.
Dr. King will be looking across a rainbow of humanity -- millions of proud and hopeful Americans who will travel to Washington to see history unfold, and the world change.
And not too far off in the distance, Dr. King will be looking right at the Lincoln Memorial -- a place where, once upon a time, he climbed a mountain of his own.
You bet Dr. King will be there. He never really left us. He'll be applauding his country and saluting his new President. Our new President.
All in all, a pretty good 80th birthday party I'd say.
And when Dr. King turns "four score and seven years" , President Obama will just be entering the final year of his second term -- unlocking the doors of a limitless future for a new generation of Dreamers.
Because as far as we've come and as proud as we are, this is but the start of brand new dream. Dr. King got to his mountaintop, and on Tuesday, we'll get to ours. But there will always be another dream to dream, and another mountain to climb. That's what today is all about. That's what hope is all about. That's what America is all about. And that's what Dr. King has always been about.
Happy Birthday Dr. King -- and may God continue to Bless us all.