MLK Dedication Date Announced

After opening to the public on Monday, August 22, organizers postponed the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial due to Hurricane Irene. On Sunday, September 11th, the monument's architect, Ed Jackson Jr., announced that the dedication would be rescheduled for October 16. Organizers are already working towards bringing back the speakers and musicians who were set to perform. The Washington Post reported that President Barack Obama would speak at the event, with musicians Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin, filmmaker George Lucas and actor Jamie Foxx serving as celebrity co-chairs.

The Alpha Pi Alpha Fraternity proposed the $120 million dollar memorial in honor of the Civil Rights Movement leader. Dr. King was one of the organization's most notable members. The memorial sits next to the Tidal Basin between the Lincon and Jefferson Memorials. Stay tuned to WRGW for more news about the dedication of the District's newest Memorial.

MLK Day of Service 2010 aids DC, volunteer hours

Today's holiday provided GW students with a day free from classes. With their free time, many students chose to participate in service events across the District. The Office of Community Service provided sign-ups for events as close as New Hampshire Avenue and as far as Falls Church, Virginia. On New Hampshire Avenue, students and other DC residents served food at Martha's Kitchen, a soup kitchen attached to the Western Presbyterian Church. In Falls Church, the Ronald McDonald House Charities sponsored a home makeover and more food service opportunities.

The Office of Community Service had 500 spots available for volunteers, and 488 were filled according the OCS website. GW is well on its way to reaching the 100,000 hour volunteering goal set by First Lady Michelle Obama, who has promised to speak at the 2010 Commencement ceremonies if the students reach that mark.

Above: Volunteers from MLK Day of Service 2009, via a link from the OCS website