15 July 2008
Oh Ranger: On the Steps Where Dr. King Stood
By Marisa Richardson
As part of a military family I traveled all over the world. We spent three years in the mid-1980s living in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. I vividly remember coming to Washington to visit the Lincoln Memorial. Fast forward a couple of decades, and the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial, and World War II Memorial have joined the landscape. I am standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial as an interpretative park ranger. I’m watching school children reenact Dr. Mr. Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, which he gave from this same spot more than 40 years ago. I am proud of the fact that in some small way I have helped the children bridge the gap between the past and present.
I am amazed that this is my profession; I studied English and communications at George Mason University with the intent of working in broadcasting. But a summer spent as a seasonal park ranger here at the National Mall & Memorial Parks changed that forever. I loved being outdoors and interacting with people from all over the country and the world. Presenting a program to visitors is extremely rewarding because I am helping them form an intellectual and emotional connection to this place.
One of the most gratifying aspects of my job is listening to and learning from visitors. At the World War II Memorial, I learn first-hand from veterans who share their experiences and enrich my insight into World War II. I love the versatility of being a park ranger. One day I’m presenting a program to school children, the next I am helping plan the Cherry Blossom Festival, or designing an interpretive display about the African-American Civil War Memorial. Many visitors tell me that I have the most wonderful job in the world—and I tell them I do!
Richardson is an interpretive park ranger at the National Mall & Memorial Parks in Washington, D.C.
This article originally appeared in the American Park Network guide to Washington, D.C.’s National Mall and Memorial Parks. More information on visiting the parks is available at OhRanger.com
