The long-awaited opening of the MLK memorial was to take place on August 27, 2011. Thousands had made plans to attend, including the sculptor who was traveling from China. Normally in DC it was hot and humid. However, days before the event was to take place news broke of Hurricane Irene whose path was headed directly to the region. I had made my plans months in advance and despite pleas from family members and friends to cancel, I thought otherwise. After looking at a map and analyzing the path of the Hurricane I concluded I had pretty good odds to be in DC before the eye hit. The other gamble was calculating whether DC as well as the memorial venue would be closed to the public.?
I figured as long as I could land before the strike as well as make it to my hotel (Marriott), which was a newer property, things would work out. The gamble paid off as yes, the storm did come but I was able to make it over to the memorial, and lo and behold there were a few knuckleheads like me who didn’t listen to the naysayers. It was a fantastic journey and the cous de gras was meeting the sculptor who was on site.
Thomas Reports 