Forest Lawn celebrates MLK birthday

Gary Moskowitz

For the first time, Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills will celebrate the

birth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at a special event Sunday that

highlights the civil rights leader’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

The event, which is free and open to the public, is at 4 p.m.

Sunday at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive.

“It will be a joyous occasion,” Community Relations Director Paula

Boger said.

“We are celebrating his birthday, and the community should come

and observe this great man with us. This is the first [Martin Luther

King Jr.] event, and it will be special.”

The event begins in the Hall of Liberty auditorium with a reading

of the “I Have a Dream” speech by actor and director Ken Sagoes, who

appeared in the Coen brothers’ film “Intolerable Cruelty.”

The emcee is U.S. Representative Juanita Millender-McDonald, the

Democratic chairwoman of the Congressional Caucus on Women’s Issues.

The Hollywood Mass Choir will provide music throughout the event.

The 70-member gospel choir is an interracial, interdenominational,

intergenerational group founded and directed by Los Angeles County

Public Defender Patrick Hare.

The International Children’s Choir of Long Beach will provide

additional music and dance during the celebration.

The children in the choir will wear costumes that represent their

cultural heritage.

“It will be a very uplifting day,” Boger said.

“[Martin Luther King Jr.] was a true American hero. We want to

honor his life and legacy.”