MEMPHIS, TN, Mar. 25, 2008 – Almost 40 years ago to this day, the legendary civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee while standing on the second floor balcony of the Lorraine Motel – now the site of the
National Civil Rights Museum.
Today, with the help of Hampton® Hotels’
Save-A-Landmark® program and legendary actor Samuel L. Jackson, this illustrious museum and infamous setting in American history will receive a makeover.
The restoration effort – the largest in the program’s nine-year history – will call on more than 100 Hampton Hotel volunteers from the area who’ll work alongside Jackson to restore four exhibition rooms by replacing wallpaper, repainting walls, repairing displays and mend
ing electrical components; renovating the exterior walkways and facade, and upgrading the surrounding landscape.
The program plans to complete most of the project by the 40th anniversary of Dr. King’s untimely passing on
April 4, 1968. Hampton will contribute more than 1,000 volunteer hours towards reviving this national landmark.
The list of legendary figures was generated from a nationwide survey, conducted by Hampton Hotels, to celebrate the accomplishments of those Americans who have inspired change, overcome adversity and made a difference.
“There was no question that Dr. King should be the first Legend honored by the program, and there was no better setting to honor his influence on the world than the Civil Rights Museum,” said Judy Christa-Cathey, vice president of brand marketing for Hampton Hotels. “Dr. King’s legacy as one of America’s most influential leaders of positive change should never be forgotten. Our goal is to help organizations like the National Civil Rights Museum continue educating, inspiring and motivating people for years to come.”
Samuel L. Jackson (
photo at left below) himself an usher at Martin Luther King’s funeral stated, “The National Civil Rights Mus
eum is an important landmark in American history. I’m looking forward to working alongside the volunteers at Hampton Hotels and their Save-A-Landmark program in restoring the grounds.”
Those looking to discover other locations devoted to historic individuals – or to possibly nominate their own “Landmark Legend” – can visit the Save-A-Landmark site at
http://www.hamptonlandmarks.com/ and click on “submit a landmark” to enter a nomination for a legendary landmark. Below is just a sample of “heroic” landmarks already included in the program’s online database.
·
Jesse Owens Memorial Park, (
photo at left) Danville, Ala.: This park honors Olympic great
Jesse Owens, an Oakville native who won four gold medals in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, the first American and the second athlete in history to win four gold medals.
·
Jackie Robinson Birthplace, Cairo, Ga.: Born here on January 31, 1919 to sharecroppers and enslaved grandparents on what was once a plan
tation,
Jackie Robinson – the first African-American major league baseball player – was just two years old
when his mother packed up Jackie and his four siblings, hopped on a train and headed to California.
·
Hellen Keller Birthplace, Tuscumbia, Ala.: This small birthplace cottage was the site of the remarkable story of
Helen Keller, the woman who was struck blind and deaf after becoming ill around the age of two. The home, called Ivy Green, eventually became the living quarters for Helen and her teacher, Anne Sullivan, whose huge teaching strides with Helen began by simply spelling out the word "water" in Helen’s hand as she pumped water over it.
·
Celia Cruz and Freedom Tower, Miami, Fla.: The Cuban songstress Celia Cruz, “the Queen of Salsa,” performed at Freedom Tower during a 2001 fundraiser to turn the site into a museum, and was later brought to the tower after her death so tens of thousands of mourners could pay their last respects to the legendary singer. Known as the Ellis Island of the Cuban community, Freedom Tower is where immigration officials processed more than 500,000 Cubans who fled the country in the 1960s.
During this time, the program has helped research landmarks in need, promoted landmark sites and their importance, facilitated thousands of volunteer hours, donated several tons of supplies and worked with matching grants — all at an investment of more than $2.5 million. Uniting its hotels together in the communities they serve, Hampton employee-volunteers work hand-in-hand on the landmarks while Hampton provides the financial support to refurbish selected sites.
Landmark nominations have been a key element of the Save-A-Landmark program’s success since its inception in 2000, with thousands of nominations provided by the public. Submissions can be made online at
http://www.hamptonlandmarks.com/ or by mailing recommendations c/o Save-A-Landmark to 8730 Sunset Blvd, 5th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
CONTACTS:
Charmaine Easie-Samuels/Tori Roberson
Hampton Brand Communications
901 374 5534
901 201 1022
Spencer Woolcott
Cohen & Wolfe
310 967 2974
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