hes us forward even when the path is uncertain； that binds us together in spite of our differences； that makes us fix our eye not on what is seen， but what is unseen， that better place around the bend.

That promise is our greatest inheritance. It s a promise I make to my daughters when I tuck them in at night， and a promise that you make to yours a promise that has led immigrants to cross oceans and pioneers to travel west； a promise that led workers to picket lines， and women to reach for the ballot.

And it is that promise that forty five years ago today， brought Americans from every corner of this land to stand together on a Mall in Washington， before Lincoln s Memorial， and hear a young preacher from Georgia speak of his dream.

The men and women who gathered there could ve heard many things. They could ve heard words of anger and discord. They could ve been told to succumb to the fear and frustration of so many dreams deferred.

But what the people heard instead people of every creed and color， from every walk of life is that in America， our destiny is inextricably linked. That together， our dreams can be one.

We cannot walk alone， the preacher cried. And as we walk， we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.

America， we cannot turn back. Not with so much work to be done. Not with so many children to educate， and so many veterans to care for. Not with an economy to fix and cities to rebuild and farms to save. Not with so many fa