The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

November 21, 2008 Friday
Main Edition

NEWS; Pg. 14A

315 words

Wal-Mart credit letter boosts King memorial

JULIA MALONE; Cox Washington Bureau

Washington --- Financing for the planned national memorial for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. received a major boost Thursday with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. providing a $12.5 million letter of credit for the effort.

The King National Memorial Project Foundation announced that the Wal-Mart credit guarantee allows the group to qualify for a building permit to start planned construction on the National Mall.

The foundation, which has raised $100 million, said in a statement that it plans to continue an "aggressive" effort until it has reached its goal of $120 million.

Wal-Mart, which earlier donated $1 million toward the effort, said in a statement, "We're extremely honored to do our part to help preserve and uphold Dr. King's dream of equality and opportunity for all Americans for future generations."

Despite the effort to speed up the groundbreaking, once scheduled for November, construction may not begin until next year because federal agencies continue to spar over the issue of security barriers.

The National Park Service, which issues building permits on public lands, is requiring that some form of barrier be included to prevent a possible car bomb.

"We're saying there must be a security system," said Bill Line, spokesman for the Park Service. He pointed out that in the years since a truck bomb blew up the federal building in Oklahoma City, the Park Service began installing security structures at the Washington Monument and the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials.

However, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, which rules on the aesthetics of such projects, has rejected the security structures, which are reinforced posts blocking the pathway leading to the planned 28-foot statue of King.

Asked how the standoff could be resolved, Line said it was a question for the Fine Arts Commission. But Thomas Luebke, secretary to the Fine Arts panel, said, "I don't know. Talk to the Park Service."

Photo: RICK MCKAY / StaffOriginal (left) and revised models of the Rev. Martin Luther King statue that will be part of the monument in Washington. Planners said Wal-Mart's donation will let them get a building permit./ImageData*

November 21, 2008