A Beautiful Event in Honor of an Important Day

On Monday, January 19th, 2015, our WAIP group decided to spend the day reflecting on the nation’s history and some of the highest-valued tenets of freedom—justice, equality, and opportunity—by exploring the capitol city. The earlier part of the day mostly involved viewing monuments and memorials, including the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, George Mason Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Korean and Vietnam War Memorials, and others. Most importantly, our group had the privilege of visiting the MLK Memorial, with the Washington Memorial picturesquely placed in the backdrop. So many individuals and groups surrounded the memorial; although the atmosphere was bustling, there was a quiet serenity about the experience. 

After grabbing lunch and splitting up, one student suggested that the five remaining fellows (including me) visit Arlington Cemetery. The experience was beautiful; the scenery was breathtaking, the air was cool and crisp, and there was a feeling of somber remembrance that seemed especially appropriate on MLK Day. 

A few quick hours passed by and we began to make our way to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where a special MLK event was taking place. It was one of celebration for and remembrance of the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. As we scrambled to jump in line for the (FREE) event tickets, we grappled with the unpleasant possibility that the event may reach maximum capacity before we received tickets. As the line slowly snaked around the large, pillared building, we reflected on the day’s happenings and continuously voiced our hope of getting tickets. 

Around an hour later, we arrived at the doorway and found that we—the five of us—received the last five tickets available for the performance. Brimming with excitement, we made our way to the concert hall and learned that we had also acquired second-row seats. We were truly fortunate to be there. The performance was spectacular; it featured the “Let Freedom Ring” Choir, Georgetown University theatre students, guest speakers (including John DeGioia, the president of Georgetown University, and Deborah Rutter, the director of the Kennedy Center), and performer Natalie Cole. 

The event was inspiring and educational in so many ways, and we were privileged to attend it on a very important holiday.

Jessica Dillow