It is the nation's greatest symbol of freedom, something Bain can finally taste.
"It's a dream come true. There's really no other words I can put there. It's phenomenal for me to be in this situation," said Bain. He was set free last month after serving 35 years in a Florida prison for a rape he didn't commit. With help from the Innocence Project of Florida, DNA testing proved Bain was innocent of the 1974 crime against a young boy.
He was the 248th person exonerated by DNA testing.
"It's magical. These are the moments, as a lawyer, that we live for. To give somebody their freedom, to give somebody their liberty, it's just a honor to be a part of it," said Seth Miller of the Innocence Project of Florida.
On the MLK day Bain, surrounded by family members, received the Drum Major Award for criminal justice from the Philadelphia Martin Luther King, Jr. association for non-violence.
The 54-year-old Bain, who lives in Florida, is now entitled to receive more than $1.7 million under Florida law. He says he's not bitter and added he was inspired by Dr. King and others as he served his time.
He also believes God had a hand in his ultimate freedom.
"I can't even put words to it, at all. It's just a gift from God for me to be here," Bain said.
James Bain was 19 when he went to prison, and he's never attended a luncheon like this.
Let alone been one of its honorees.
