Hometown Wanderlust is a brand new, adventurous, weekly blog featuring one girl’s experiences with food, music, shopping, biking and life in general around Dublin GA. This week, Dublin GA’s favorite redhead experiences a bit of history in the making during the MLK Monument Groundbreaking.
It’s the beginning of a brand new week. What better way to search for inspiration than attending church services at the location of such a historical event which happened over 70 years ago. The very spot where the voice of one very young man spilled out over a town, the state, and eventually the entire world.
The town is Dublin, the state Georgia, and the church First African Baptist Church. The man was 15 year old Martin Luther King, Jr. Entering the church, there’s a hush, a peace of sorts yet a tingle of excitement. Stained glass windows lining both sides of the church filters the sunlight, casting rays of blues and purples and greens over the congregation. There’s an immediate connection to the members who delight in their history. The service is stimulating. Uplifting. A perfect start.
There’s been a project in the works and today, as we close out the week, we get to witness the beginning of a beginning: the groundbreaking of the MLK monument dedicated to the memory of that first speech given by a young man that already was eager to see a change in the world as it was. A beacon to reach those that have not yet been touched by the message and the hope.
It’s going to rain. The town gathers anyway to partake in such a momentous event. The hushed chatter lingering over the crowd fills the air with electricity. I notice such emotion and energy moving between us in the crowd, a bonding across generations. Opening comments are spoken by the individuals that have put the most time into building this project from a thought to reality. The spirit and emotion in their words produce chills of excitement. Dirt is shoveled and tossed and the ceremony is complete.
Spectators wander the site, some discussing the future, others exchanging stories marked by the influence of such a profound individual. Refreshments are laid out for those that skipped lunch hour to observe the occasion. What I notice most about this joyous occasion is the kinsmanship among the members of the city. Leaders and laymen. Grandmothers and businessmen. All unanimous in their excitement to share with each other and the world the power that is unity.
I also notice it doesn’t start pouring until the events have ended.
For more information and to donate to the MLK monument project, visit https://visitdublinga.org/news/3092/
