In honor of the forthcoming 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Memphis airport revealed a historical marker dedicated to King on Monday.
King arrived from his final flight at the airport on April 3, 1968 to support a sanitation workers strike taking place in the area. Historical markers inform on the significance of a precise location in relation to a notable figure ― King’s marker will be titled, “The Final Flight.”
He gave his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech at Mason Temple Church of God in Christ. He was assassinated the next day on a balcony at the former Lorraine Motel in Memphis.
The marker is the first of events in place to recognize King’s legacy in lieu of the 50th anniversary of his murder, which will take place on April 4, 2018.
Reverend Jessie Jackson and U.N. Ambassador and former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young, who were both with King when he was murdered, attended Monday’s unveiling ceremony.
On Tuesday, the 49th anniversary of King’s assassination, Jackson posted about the marker on Twitter saying King’s death “still hurts.”