I was at the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963...

[Arkham House]

...and heard Martin Luther King give his "I have a dream" speech...not quite ten, Dad took me in from the suburbs because he thought this would be important, something I'd always remember...and well--he was right about that... I saw JFK's funeral three months later...I saw RFK's funeral train pass...I can't describe my feelings right now. Literally--I *can't*. Suffice it to say, I feel as if 40 years in the wilderness is about to end. Jack, Martin, Bobby--thank you, and you're all in my memory tonight...

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Wow. You really have seen it all....

[Howardx]

2. great post

i dig your user name too.

[codjh9]

3. That's awesome! And yeah, I think it's another Big Event. The closest I can come to

your experience is that my dad was in DC for LBJ's inauguration, just a few years after you heard that speech ('68?).

[arthritisR_US]

4. impressive memories, may your dream come to fruition :-) n/t

[Faygo Kid]

5. I will be at the Lincoln Memorial on May 30, 2009, when President Obama rededicates it.

Thanks for your story.

I will also note that President Obama will address a joint session of Congress on the actual Bicentennial of Lincoln's birthday, Feb. 12.

Wow.

[OneGrassRoot]

6. I was born on August 27, 1963, in southern Alabama...

so I have no actual memory of these events.

From a very, very young age, I was always surrounded by bigots and racists (not only in Alabama, but growing up in PA and other areas). However, I have always felt very connected to the Civil Rights Movement and have confronted racism and bigotry throughout my life.

When I was born, and where, left an odd kind of energetic imprint on me, if that makes sense. I wasn't consciously aware of it, but it's as though these events (MLK/JFK) impacted me tremendously...as though I was indeed there and absorbing the significance.

I've thought about it periodically throughout my life. It's very odd......

This election is an emotional culmination for me personally, not to mention our country.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

8. I have a good friend,

born the same day as you, same year, in southern Georgia. He grew up to be a husband, father, MBA, Marine officer, and huge supporter of Barack Obama.

You both have made it. Congratulations.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

7. I was there, too, on the Mall, for the "I Have A Dream" speech

And when JFK died, we were at his grave two days after the funeral. I was in Peru when Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, and ended up in Miami Airport, returning to the US, when RFK was shot. I stayed in the airport that whole night, until he died the next day, and then I continued on home.

I was at the Old Executive Office Building with a Nixon staffer friend when the Saturday Night Massacre took place, and we were at the Jefferson Memorial at the stroke of midnight, as July 4, 1976 began. There were others there, and without consultation, we all began singing The Star Spangled Banner as bells pealed throughout the city.

On the night of July 4, 1976, as we celebrated our Bicentennial under a President who hadn't even been elected (Nixon's final trick on us), we sat on the grass on the Mall and watched the amazing fireworks. That night, In Washington, DC, there were no crimes - not one - reported while the celebration took place downtown. That never happened again.

Now, as our years have carried us here, we have seen the best and the worst of our country, and, for the first time since, as a young girl, I watched JFK take the oath of office that sunny, frigid day in 1961, I feel a kind of sad calm. Sad because we have fallen so far and lost so much, calm because the man at the top of our ticket knows what it means to stay cool.

And, if I allow myself, if I can overcome my fear, I feel hope.

[OneGrassRoot]

9. ...

:hug:

Thank you.

[onethatcares]

10. you have seen history and are about to

see even more. I love to listen to that speech. All great men seem to be "liberal" why is that?

Peace.

[barbtries]

11. you have really witnessed history

40 years in the wilderness. it hurts to think of what might have been, and should have been. but here we are. for something really uplifting i recommend going to cspan and listening to the speech hillary clinton gave today. it's good.