Page 17 - MLK Day Booklet 2021

President Lyndon B. Johnson declared April 7,

1968, a national day of mourning for the lost civil

rights leader. A crowd of 300,000 attended his

funeral two days later, on April 9. Vice President
Hubert Humphrey attended on behalf of Lyndon

B. Johnson, who was at a meeting on the Vi-

etnam War at Camp David. (There were fears

that Johnson might be hit with protests and

abuses over the war if he attended).

At his widow's request, King eulogized himself:

His last sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church, a re-

cording of his famous 'Drum Major' sermon, giv-
en on February 4, 1968, was played at the funer-

al.

In that sermon he makes a request that at his fu-

neral no mention of his awards and honors be

made, but that it be said that he tried to "feed

the hungry," "clothe the naked," "be right on the

[Vietnam] war question," and "love and serve

humanity."