COLUMBUS, Ga., Jan. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aflac Incorporated announced a gift of $1 million toward the construction of a national memorial commemorating the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Aflac Chairman and CEO, Dan Amos made the announcement during his presentation of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Award at the 19th annual MLK Unity Breakfast held at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center.

"We must always remember the magnitude of Dr. King's contribution to this country," Amos said. "Aflac is proud to support the building of the King Memorial as a tribute to Dr. King's untiring work for social change. This project is a wonderful way to honor his legacy and the sacrifices he made."

Following more than 10 years of lobbying before Congress, Public Law 104- 333 was passed in 1996 authorizing the collection of funds to construct a national monument in Washington, DC honoring the revered civil rights leader. Chartered in 1998, the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation has raised more than $33 million toward construction of the memorial. In support of its crusade, the organization will launch a new media campaign in February, featuring Tavis Smiley, Morgan Freeman, and other celebrities in radio and television PSAs.

"The Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation is honored to accept this significant gift from Aflac. This organization has shown its commitment to sustaining the legacy of Dr. King, as well as his vision for America, by honoring him with this substantial contribution toward the Memorial Project," said Foundation President, Harry E. Johnson.

The landscaped memorial covering a four-acre triangle will be built on the National Mall and located on the shore of Washington's Tidal Basin. The monument will be constructed between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials and next to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial. The memorial is envisioned as a quiet and receptive space, yet powerful and emotionally evocative, reflecting the spirit of the message Dr. King delivered and the role he played in society.

The groundbreaking is scheduled for December 2006 with a goal of dedicating the Memorial in December 2008.

In 2002, Aflac donated $1 million to the creation of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.

Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL) is an international holding company. A Fortune 500 company, Aflac insures more than 40 million people worldwide. It is a leading writer of insurance products marketed at the worksite in the United States, offering policies to employees at more than 312,900 payroll accounts. The company insures one out of four Japanese households and is the largest life insurer in Japan in terms of individual insurance policies in force. In January 2004, Aflac was named to Forbes magazine's "Platinum 400 List of America's Best Big Companies" for the fifth consecutive year. In March 2004, Fortune magazine included Aflac in its annual listing of "America's Most Admired Companies." Aflac's Internet address is aflac.com .

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