βAnd yet they died nobly. They are the martyred heroines of a holy crusade for freedom and human dignity. And so this afternoon in a real sense they have something to say to each of us in their death.β
Delivered on September 18, 1963 at funeral service for three of the children β Addie Mae Collins, Carol Denise McNair, and Cynthia Diane Wesley β killed in the bombing. A separate service was held for the fourth victim, Carole Robertson.