About 5,000 people braved cold winds and rain to pay tribute to Martin Luther King.

The occasion was the ground-breaking for a Washington memorial to the slain civil rights leader. President Bush and former President Clinton hailed the monument for giving King his rightful place among statesmen honored on the National Mall.

Also attending were members of Congress, poet Maya Angelou, as well as talk-show host Oprah Winfrey. King's daughter Yolanda said it was clear that her father's presence is still deeply felt.

The memorial won't be far from the Lincoln Memorial, where King gave his historic "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963.

Organizers hope to have it ready by the spring of 2008.