alpha phi alpha joined with fraternities across the country, federal and local government, people allrld, all around a common goal, to build a monument celebrating our borther as -- our brother as a civil rights leader. we knew that our long-held vision would be realized. thank you to all of you who have helped us to arrive here today. thank you, mr. president. thank you, secretary salazar, for your signature. it is my honor, my privilege, and my pleasure, to introduce to you the honorable kenneth salazar, secretary of the interior. [applause] >> thank you, skip. good morning to all of you. on behalf of president barack obama and the united states department of the interior, i am humbled and i am honored to celebrate with you the birth of dr. martin luther king, jr., memorial, on the national mall, as the nation's 395th national park. [applause] in all of our lives, we have seen and understood the legacy of dr. king, that, as citizens of birth, we are all one people and have a duty to stand up for equality and justice for all. today, the department of the interior and the national par

i want to thank the alpha by elf of a fraternity -- the alpha by alpha fraternity for having the commitmention and determination to oversee this project and to see it through. by honoring martin luther king jr. with such a wonderful statute on the national mall, you have insured that his legacy will provide a source of inspiration for people from all over the world for generations to come. my brother was an alibi himself and he was proud of his fraternity brothers when they came to the aid of a non- violent his freedom struggle again and again with urgently needed contributions and volunteer support and now against all odds, you have built this beautiful monument which brings honor to our country and hope to coming generations. in closing, i want to thank each of you for joining us today. your presence is also an affirmation of my brother's legacy and the great lesson of that -- of diversity in red -- and america. let this wonderful day mark another step towards the fullness of the dream and let all parts be joined together as we move forward into the future united and determined to create