50 years later, Birmingham church bombing victims honored

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FILE - In a Sept. 15, 1963 file photo, investigators work outside the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., following an explosion that killed four young girls. The city of Birmingham is planning five days of events with political leaders, artists and ordinary citizens to mark the 50th anniversary of the racist church bombing that killed four black girls. Attorney General Eric Holder, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, director Spike Lee and actor Jamie Foxx are among those participating in what’s being called “Empowerment Week.” Events begin Wednesday, Sept, 11 and continue through Sunday, Sept. 15, the anniversary of the bombing of the church. Three Ku Klux Klansmen were convicted in the bombing years later. (AP Photo/File)

A stained-glass portrait of Cynthia Wesley, one of the four young girls killed in the Birmingham church bombing of 1963, hangs at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta. CONTRIBUTED BY DAVID TULIS / AJC SPECIAL

A stained-glass portrait of Carole Robertson, one of the four young girls killed in the Birmingham church bombing of 1963, hangs at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta. CONTRIBUTED BY DAVID TULIS / AJC SPECIAL

A stained-glass portrait of Addie Mae Collins, one of the four young girls killed in the Birmingham church bombing of 1963, hangs at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta.. David Tulis / AJC Special

A stained-glass portrait of Denise McNair, one of the four young girls killed in the Birmingham church bombing of 1963, hangs at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta.. David Tulis / AJC Special

The leaders of Congress stand during a ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013, to remember the young victims of the 1963 firebombing in Birmingham, Ala., during the Civil Rights Movement. From left are, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif. House and Senate leaders formally awarded Congress' highest civilian honor to four girls killed in an Alabama church bombing nearly 50 years ago. A statue of Rosa Parks, a past recipient of the medal is at left rear. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

U.S. House and Senate leaders posthumously present a Congressional Gold Medal to Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley, victims of the 1963 Birmingham bombing. The medal is awarded in recognition of how their sacrifice served as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement. (Pete Marovich/MCT)

Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) speaks during a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, September 10, 2013. U.S. House and Senate leaders posthumously presented the medals to Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley, victims of the 1963 Birmingham bombing. The medal is awarded in recognition of how their sacrifice served as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement. (Pete Marovich/MCT)

Dr. Lawrence Pijeaux Jr., president and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, speaks during a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, September 10, 2013. U.S. House and Senate Leaders posthumously presented the medals to Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley, victims of the 1963 Birmingham bombing. The medal is awarded in recognition of how their sacrifice served as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement. (Pete Marovich/MCT)

Jewel Chris McNair, father of Denise McNair, is greeted by Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) following a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, September 10, 2013. U.S. House and Senate leaders posthumously presented the medals to Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley, victims of the 1963 Birmingham bombing. The medal is awarded in recognition of how their sacrifice served as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement. (Pete Marovich/MCT)

Jewel Chris McNair and his wife, Maxine, parents of Denise McNair is greeted by a well-wisher following a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, September 10, 2013. U.S. House and Senate leaders posthumously presented the medals to Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley, victims of the 1963 Birmingham bombing. The medal is awarded in recognition of how their sacrifice served as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement. (Pete Marovich/MCT)

Maxine McNair, mother of Denise McNair, is greeted by filmmaker Spike Lee following a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, September 10, 2013. U.S. House and Senate leaders posthumously presented the medals to Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley, victims of the 1963 Birmingham bombing. The medal is awarded in recognition of how their sacrifice served as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement. (Pete Marovich/MCT)

Director Spike Lee attends a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, September 10, 2013. U.S. House and Senate leaders posthumously presented the medals to Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley, victims of the 1963 Birmingham bombing. The medal is awarded in recognition of how their sacrifice served as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement. (Pete Marovich/MCT)

Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) wipes away tears during a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, September 10, 2013. U.S. House and Senate leaders posthumously presented the medals to Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley, victims of the 1963 Birmingham bombing. The medal is awarded in recognition of how their sacrifice served as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement. (Pete Marovich/MCT)

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FILE - In a Sept. 15, 1963 file photo, investigators work outside the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., following an explosion that killed four young girls. The city of Birmingham is planning five days of events with political leaders, artists and ordinary citizens to mark the 50th anniversary of the racist church bombing that killed four black girls. Attorney General Eric Holder, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, director Spike Lee and actor Jamie Foxx are among those participating in what’s being called “Empowerment Week.” Events begin Wednesday, Sept, 11 and continue through Sunday, Sept. 15, the anniversary of the bombing of the church. Three Ku Klux Klansmen were convicted in the bombing years later. (AP Photo/File)

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