Remembering Nelson Mandela

The September 11 attacks happened a little over two months before I had the honor to attend Nelson Mandela’s delivery of the Sadat Lecture for Peace at the University of Maryland College Park campus.  Everyone around me seemed to hang on to every word Mandela said as we all knew we were in the presence of greatness- sharing a historical moment.  Recently, I visited the South African embassy to pay respects to Nelson Mandela who died on December 5, 2013 in South Africa following a long illness. 

South African Embassy - Washington, D.C.

This is the "Media Alert" posted to the original UMD "Newsdesk" site:

Nelson Mandela To Speak at University of Maryland

WHAT: On his first trip to the United States since the September 11 attacks, former South African president Nelson Mandela will deliver the annual SadatLecture for Peace, speaking to an estimated audience of 10 thousand at the University of Maryland. Because of space limitations and the wide interest in his remarks, attendance will be by invitation-only. Media reservations will be required. The event is sponsored by the University of Maryland Sadat Chair for Peace and Development. Mandela, 83, speaks with a special voice. "No other living political leader commands the respect throughout the world as Mandela," says Shibley Telhami, who holds the university's Sadat Chair. "His voice carries moral authority in almost all quarters, and in this time of national and international crisis all will be listening."

WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 14 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. All media must be in place by 6:30 p.m. Crews may begin setting up equipment at 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: Cole Student Activities Building, University of Maryland, College Park.

Entire Video of Mandela's lecture

University of Maryland shares photos on Facebook here.