Where The Dreamer Died

This is the location where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. He was just 39 years old. It was then called the Lorraine Motel, but is now renamed the National Civil Rights Center. The wreath marks the spot right outside room 306 where he stayed the previous night. He fell dead on the balcony just to the left of the room after being shot from just across the street. It was a sad day for the nation and extremely upsetting for several of us. I was still in the Army. We were in formation when the announcement was made and when several (white) soldiers laughed it nearly started a fight. Our platoon sergeant excused those of us who were involved said that anyone causing a problem would be disciplined under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. It was a tense time and I remember riots breaking out across the country.