Memorial Best Way To Ensure Michael Jackson's Legacy

As the family of Michael Jackson continues to grieve their son, brother and father, time is of the essence to ensure that the greatest entertainer of all time is appropriately remembered for generations to come.

The family of Elvis Presley was smart in making sure that the world always will remember the musical contributions of the man dubbed the King of Rock 'n' Roll (even though, in my opinion, that title should go to Little Richard or Chuck Berry). Graceland serves as the gold standard for celebrity estates, ensuring a primary location for Elvis Presley fans to gather to honor him.

Think about it. Frank Sinatra is seen as on par with Elvis and Michael Jackson, but there is no such memorial to Sinatra that has generated the kind of attention needed. He's remembered, but not with the same fervor.

There is no doubt that any kind of memorial/monument for Jackson would surpass Graceland in terms of attendance and revenue.

For all of you who want Neverland to be it, forget about it. One, it's two hours away from Los Angeles and is difficult to get to. Second, the rich folks who were Jackson's neighbors would never go for it. They won't change the laws to allow him to be buried there and don't even want to think of the traffic that would be generated by all the people (as many as 1 million) who would visit the ranch each year.

Graceland is situated perfectly in Memphis, Tenn., and is easily accessible.

Michael lived for years in the Los Angeles area, but it isn't really centrally located. Frankly, the perfect choice for a Michael Jackson/Jackson 5 memorial center is the Jacksons' original hometown, Gary, Ind. The town is less than 45 minutes from Chicago and has three airports to provide access (Chicago's O'Hare and Midway international airports, as well as Gary/Chicago International Airport), and it is in the middle of the country. Fans of Jackson's could travel from both coasts and from the north and the south to praise their deceased hero.

The city of Gary definitely could use the tourist attraction and would do anything and everything the family wanted to make it a first-class facility.

Mayor Rudy Clay says he has had talks with Michael's father, Joe Jackson, and others about this, and they are hopeful it will happen.

It should. Jackson is certainly worthy of a memorial. Lisa Marie Presley has been able to further her father's legacy and establish a consistent source of revenue for her and her children. The same could be done for Michael's three children.

Roland S. Martin is an award-winning CNN contributor and the author of "Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith." Please visit his Web site at www.RolandSMartin.com. To find out more about Roland S. Martin and read his past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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