WASHINGTON (AP) — Organizers have set new date in October for dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington.

Executive Architect Ed Jackson Jr. told The Associated Press on Sunday that the memorial will now be dedicated Oct. 16. A formal announcement is expected soon.

The dedication had been planned for Aug. 28, the 48th anniversary of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. But it was delayed by Hurricane Irene, which swept through Washington with high winds and rain.

President Barack Obama had been scheduled to speak and up to 250,000 people were expected to attend. Jackson says Obama is scheduled to speak at the dedication on its new date.

Oct. 16 will be the 16th anniversary of the Million Man March on the National Mall in 1995.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.