Reverend: Progress Seen in 50 Years, But More is Needed

"We celebrate this day and how far we've come in the last 50 years," Rev. Dick Leavitt told the attendees before watching the speech."

He said it's a celebration, but a reminder, too, that there is still a long way to go.

"Yes, we've come so far and yes we should celebrate it, but we need to keep moving forward, too," Leavitt said.

King's speech was a scripted chance to speak before a crowd of countless people who joined the March on Washington and flooded the National Mall to hear him speak. However, as one attendee of the event pointed out after the speech, you see a moment where he stops reading and begins speaking fully from himself.

The word "dream" was never even in the speech, yet it has become the most iconic part of it. 

During the reflection period after watching the speech discussion turned to President Barack Obama and that progress made in electing the country's first African-American president and the question of whether it mattered since Obama and Congress have so frequently failed to work together since he was elected in 2008.

"You can't take away that progress that was made," said Bob Miskelly.

Miskelly told those gathered that in 1968, he was living in Washington D.C. and went to the Mall to hear King speak and observe what was sure to be a big part of history. 

“I was there, and it was unbelievable,” Miskelly said. “The showing of people, how calm it all was, it was just amazing.”

Miskelly said what could have been a very tense situation was one of peace and it wasn't until a couple weeks later that rioting began.

“One night I was coming home from work and could see smoke rising from the Capitol as I was coming over Memorial Bridge,” Miskelly said. “It was quite scary.”

Leavitt said after the ceremony, which included a litany, the ringing of the bell (everyone had the opportunity to give the rope a few pulls) and a closing prayer, that he was very happy with the turnout.

“We had no way of knowing what to expect,” Leavitt said. “Whether it was three or 13 or 30, we were going to be here to mark this day.”

Watch a short video above from Wednesday's ceremony.